The controversy over Court Philippe Chatrier’s lack of women’s matches during the night sessions at the 2025 French Open continues, with world number one Jannik Sinner weighing in on the issue. Despite numerous players voicing their dissatisfaction, Sinner claims that the schedule is “quite equal,” but thinks that two WTA matches would be needed to headline the night session.
Sinner’s comments come after a week of women’s tennis players expressing their disappointment with the current scheduling arrangement. Top players like Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek have all spoken out about the need for greater equality in terms of court time and prize money.
However, Sinner suggests that adding two WTA matches to the night session could solve the problem. He points out that men’s matches are best-of-five sets, while women’s matches are best-of-three sets. This difference in format means that a women’s match can often be completed within under an hour, whereas a men’s match may last longer.
Sinner also expressed his agreement with former world number four Tim Henman’s suggestion that the tournament should start earlier if it wants to accommodate more women’s matches. Despite this, there is no guarantee that the French Open will follow suit and provide more opportunities for women’s tennis players.
The French Open’s decision to schedule a men’s match between Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti for the night session on Sunday has sparked frustration among fans of women’s tennis. The matchup features two players who have not yet reached a Major final, raising questions about why they were given priority over top Grand Slam winners like Swiatek and Rybakina. As the tournament progresses, it seems increasingly likely that the night sessions will remain male-dominated.
Source: https://www.thetennisgazette.com/news/jannik-sinner-tells-french-open-organisers-what-they-must-change-if-they-are-to-put-womens-matches-in-the-night-session