Despite the early scheduling of her quarter-final match against Coco Gauff at the French Open, Ons Jabeur couldn’t help but feel disappointed. The three-time grand slam finalist believes that playing in the afternoon would attract more spectators and create a better atmosphere in the stadiums.
The issue of scheduling has been a recurring theme at the French Open, with attendances being a concern for women’s matches. While some players like Iga Swiatek have accepted the scheduling arrangements, others like Jabeur continue to advocate for a fairer allocation of prime time slots for women’s matches to promote gender equality in tennis.
Criticism of women’s matches at the tournament has been mounting, with many fans questioning why women’s matches are not played in night sessions like men’s matches. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo had previously promised to create a more equal schedule, but it seems that this promise has fallen on deaf ears.
Jabeur spoke out about the issue after her match ended with US Open champion Gauff defeating her in a comeback across three sets. Despite the exciting match, she felt that playing in the morning was a disappointment for both players and spectators alike. She urged tournament organizers to reconsider their scheduling practices and prioritize women’s matches in prime time slots to promote gender equality in tennis.
Despite criticism from players and fans alike, it remains to be seen whether tournament organizers will take Jabeur’s comments into consideration and make changes to their scheduling practices. Only time will tell if progress can be made towards creating a fairer schedule for both men and women at the French Open.
