French Open: 2 of 36 night matches have involved women with Amélie Mauresmo in charge

For the fourth French Open in a row, tournament director Amélie Mauresmo was asked about a lack of women's matches during the tournament's night sessions — there was one in 2022, one in 2023, zero in 2024 and, as of Friday, zero in 2025.
And for the fourth French Open in a row, Mauresmo dismissed the issue, saying at a news conference Friday, when she also was pressed about placing women's matches in the noon slot at Court Philippe-Chatrier, when attendance tends to be sparse: "The funny thing is that it's the same questions, year after year."
At the other Grand Slam tennis tournaments that sell separate tickets for night sessions, the U.S. Open and Australian Open, the main stadiums tend to feature two singles matches for that part of the daily schedule, one involving women and one involving men. Wimbledon has an 11 p.m. cutoff for competition and doesn't sells tickets for a night session.
Roland-Garros added night sessions starting three years ago and the French federation has a contract with a streaming service for viewers in the home country that calls for one daily match in European primetime for the first 1 1/2 weeks of the event.
Only two of the 36 contests at night in that stretch were women's matches.
Mauresmo, a former player who was ranked No. 1 and won two Grand Slam titles, took over as tournament director ahead of the 2022 tournament. She repeatedly has offered similar explanations for why the night match has almost always been a men's match, including that their best-of-five-set format is likely to offer more time on court for ticket-buyers than the best-of-three setup for women.
In recent years, some female players have argued that's a mistake and hurts the growth of their sport, although Mauresmo said Friday that no current or former athletes have complained to her about it or offered their thoughts.
Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, was asked about the topic this week and called the current setup 'a shame.'
'It's still sad that we are still seeing this," Jabeur said. 'In Europe, in general, it's unfortunate for women's sports. ... Not for tennis, but in general. ... Whoever is making the decision, I don't think they have daughters, because I don't think they want to treat their daughters like this.'
'It's a bit ironic," Jabeur added. "They don't show women's sport, they don't show women's tennis, and then they (say), 'Mostly, (fans) watch men.' Of course they watch men more, because you show men more.'
Iga Swiatek, the three-time defending champion in Paris, said it doesn't bother her.
'Every year, we talk about it. My position didn't change: I like playing days, so I'm happy that I'm done and I can have a longer rest,' she said.
Mauresmo said that having just one night match hasn't changed, 'So for me, the message is not changing, and has never been that the girls are not worthy to play at night.'
When a reporter tried to return to matters such as night matches and scheduling women first in Chatrier, asking Mauresmo how big a deal she considers those matters, she replied: 'You know what? I would like to change the subject.'
___
Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Wales Online

26 minutes ago

• Wales Online

Wimbledon quarter-finalist breaks silence after being caught in affair with model

Wimbledon quarter-finalist breaks silence after being caught in affair with model Former tennis world No. 4 Kei Nishikori has spoken out after reportedly cheating on his wife with a model whose apartment he was photographed leaving recently Kei Nishikori has spoken about his personal life after withdrawing from Wimbledon (Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images ) Two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Kei Nishikori has expressed "deep regret" over causing hurt to his family following reports of an affair with a model. The 35-year-old tennis player, recently spotted exiting the flat of Azuki Oguchi, has been at the centre of speculation. Reports in Japan have claimed Nishikori was involved in a years-long affair with Oguchi. ‌ He married Mai Yamaguchi, also known as Ako Mizuki, in 2020 after a five-year relationship. They have two young children, aged four and one. His recent withdrawal from Wimbledon due to injury was quickly followed by a public confession regarding his personal life. ‌ In a statement, Nishikori said: "I deeply apologise for causing discomfort to everyone who supports me: tennis fans, associations, sponsors, and other related parties, and for their concern and inconvenience due to my dishonest behaviour. Additionally, I deeply regret making my wife and children feel hurt." According to Shukan Bunshun, Nishikori and Oguchi began their liaison in 2022. The report claims the affair temporarily ended following an altercation with Oguchi's partner at the time but allegedly resumed last year, reports the Express. While his personal life has been in the spotlight, Nishikori aims to redeem himself through his sporting career. The veteran tennis star spoke about wanting to regain his family's trust and moving past the scandal. Article continues below Nishikori married Mai Yamaguchi in 2020 (Image: Instagram: keinishikori ) He added: "Moving forward, in order to fulfill my role as a responsible member of society, I will focus solely on tennis competitions and achieving results. We will do everything possible to regain their trust." Nishikori climbed to fourth in the world rankings in 2015, the same year he reached the quarter-finals of the French Open and Australian Open. He reached the US Open final in 2014 too. ‌ The Japanese star also enjoyed success at Wimbledon, reaching the quarter-finals in 2018 and 2019. Adding to his list of achievements, Nishikori holds a bronze medal from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Nishikori is at the centre of an off-court scandal (Image: Getty ) The seasoned player's career has been plagued by injuries since 2021, causing him to drop to 61st in the men's rankings. Further complications led him to pull out of the French Open in May before withdrawing from Wimbledon. ‌ "You have to try to stay patient, otherwise it's very difficult," he admitted in April. "I've done that, and I've got used to the journey, the struggle. "My body is not the strongest, I know that, so I have to really take care of it. It's important to stay positive and patient. That's what I've learned. "I just enjoy playing now. I've set some goals. One was to be back in the top 50 and I'm nearly there." Article continues below Nishikori will not be involved when Wimbledon gets underway on June 30. Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova will hope to defend their respective singles titles at the tournament, which concludes on July 13.

BBC News

30 minutes ago

• BBC News

Fearnley beaten by Lehecka in Queen's quarter-final

Jacob Fearnley's run at Queen's came to an end when the British number two was beaten by Jiri Lehecka 7-5 6-2 in the 23-year-old was playing in his first last-eight match of an ATP Tour event after producing a brilliant display against French qualifier Corentin Moutet on Czech world number 30 Lehecka proved too much for him on another hot day in west had looked promising for Fearnley after he got the first break of the match, but the world number 60 gave it up immediately following three double mistakes on serve proved costly again as Lehecka got the double break to lead 6-5 before serving out the then continued the momentum in the second set, getting another double break to go on and seal the win and his place in the semi-finals, where he will play the winner of Friday's match between British number one Jack Draper and American Brandon Nakashima.

The Independent

30 minutes ago

• The Independent

Jacob Fearnley knocked out of Queen's quarter-finals by Jiri Lehecka

Jacob Fearnley's Queen's Club run was halted in the quarter-finals in straight sets by Jiri Lehecka. The British number two looked heavy-legged in an error-strewn 7-5 6-2 defeat to the Czech world number 30. Fearnley was scheduled to play the opening match on the Andy Murray Arena despite a gruelling three-setter against Corentin Moutet the day before, followed by a win in the doubles – alongside Cameron Norrie – against Lehecka and Taylor Fritz. Lehecka got revenge for that defeat by preventing Fearnley from becoming the first British man to reach the semi-finals on his Queen's Club debut in 48 years. Fearnley coughed up eight double faults in the first set, including three in both the games in which Lehecka broke his serve. Lehecka struck again for 3-2 in the second after a Fearnley forehand landed a millimetre out and then ran away with the match, wrapping up victory in an hour and 17 minutes.