French Open: Sabalenka and Osaka after discussions in the night session

For the first time in three years

After days of argument: change at the French Open

For the first time in three years, a women’s match at the French Open will be scheduled in the night session. The decision comes after a long discussion.

At the French Open in Paris, the round of 16 between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has been scheduled for the night session on Monday evening. It is the first women’s match in prime time of the tournament since 2023 – and the end of a day-long debate about equality in the schedule.

Since the night session was introduced in 2021, it is only the fifth time that two players have taken the evening slot on Court Philippe Chatrier. This was most recently the case in the duel between Sabalenka and the American Sloane Stephens. In 2024, 2025 and so far also 2026, only men’s matches were on the program. That sparked criticism.

Tennis legend Boris Becker made a clear statement to Eurosport: “I don’t understand it either.” In times of equality, “sometimes the women have to play in the evening, no matter how long the match is.” He also named the main reason for the organizers’ reluctance: “The organizers are scared that a women’s match is over after an hour.”

Women need two winning sets to advance – a match can end after around an hour. This is out of the question for men in best-of-five mode. Tickets for the night session cost between 60 and 280 euros.

Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo is a former world number one herself. She finally had to justify herself and made it clear: “It’s definitely not a matter of the women not deserving to play in the evening session. It’s not a question of ability.” At the same time, she admitted: “The playing time will of course be taken into account. We have to keep an eye on the 15,000 spectators who will be present for the evening games.” Mauresmo ruled out changes to the format – such as two women’s matches in the evening or one women’s and one men’s match like at the Australian Open and US Open – for the current edition: “The system with a single evening game remains unchanged.”

Osaka appeared unimpressed by the debate. The Japanese said: “I really don’t care what pitch I play on or what time of day I play.” But she wouldn’t mind having a “popcorn match” like that. On Monday night, that’s exactly what she gets.