Since 2021 there were only four women’s matches in the popular night session at the French Open – compared to 43 among men. This creates discussions and criticism.
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo has reacted to the discussions about the cast of the popular evening games at the French Open. “Every year there are the same questions”said the former world -class player at a press conference in Paris. And she gives the same answers every year.
Since the introduction of the night sessions in Stade Roland Garros four years ago, there has been a lot of discussion about why almost never women’s matches are being used in the evening. Since 2021 there have been 47 games on the Court Philippe-Chatrier (including Carlos Alcaraz against Damir Dzumhur on Friday evening)-only four of them were women games.
Clear criticism of Jabeur
This fact calls critics every year. This time it was mainly the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who criticized the approaches violently. “Whoever makes the decision, I don’t think he has daughters because I don’t think he wants to treat his daughters like this”said Jabeur. There are enough good players who deserved to play on this stage, said the Tunisian.
In her reason, Mauresmo mainly pointed out that the women only play over two winning rates and that a game could therefore end too quickly. Then the spectators would be offered too little tennis for their expensive tickets.
Mauresmo without solutions
Suggestions to start both a women’s and a men’s game in the evening and start with the night session earlier, rejected Mauresmo with a view to the television contract with Amazon Prime in France. This only provides for one game at the best broadcast time. The streaming service has a great influence on the approaches and fully focuses on men’s tennis. Only male tennis professionals can be found on the advertising posters in Paris.
Mauresmo also referred to the habits of the French to come to the facility only later after work and dinner. This also speaks against an earlier start and two matches, as is common with the Australian Open and the US Open. Mauresmo only reacted with an armpit’s shroud of the accusation that the focus on the men is sent to the women, they are not worth playing at the best time.