Aryna Sabalenka's fourth-round clash against Naomi Osaka on Monday will be the first women's match to be scheduled in the French Open's night-time slot since 2023.. According to BBC Sport's Paul Battison, each of the previous 32 primetime sessions on Court Philippe Chatrier was allocated to men's matches. The match marks a notable departure from a pattern that has drawn increasing criticism from players and the WTA .

Only 5 women's matches in 92 night sessions since 2021

The French Open introduced one-match evening sessions in 2021. As reported by BBC Sport, only four of the first 60 slots on the main show court contained a women's match. Since the start of 2023, every one of the next 32 primetime slots went to men. Monday's Sabalenka-Osaka contest will be the fifth women's night match overall out of 92 total slots since the format began. The imbalance is starker than at any other Grand Slam: the Australian Open, US Open ,and Wimbledon all feature a more equitable distribution of night matches between men and women.

Amelie Mauresmo's 'danger of women's matches going really fast' defense

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo, a former world number one, has consistently justified the scheduling gap by arguing that women's matches risk being 'really fast' and thus less suited to a standalone evening slot. That explanation has been met with disbelief by many players. two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur questioned publicly whether the decision-makers 'have daughters', while American world number five Jessica Pegula said she felt like she was 'hitting her head against the wall' on the topic. The Sabalenka-Osaka match, featuring two four-time Grand Slam winners, will test the 'too fast' claim under the lights.

What WTA chief Valerie Camillo raised with the tournament director

The lack of women's night matches prompted recently appointed WTA chief executive Valerie Camillo to seek answers directly from Mauresmo during a meeting at Roland Garros this week.. According to the report,Camillo described the conversation as 'open and productive' and underlined her belief that women's players have delivered some of the 'most exciting and dynamic competition in global sport' over recent months and years. mauresmo has insisted the night sessions will not be extended to two matches — like the Australian Open and US Open — citing fear of creating late finishes.

What the 32-match all-men streak reveals about tournament priorities

The scheduling disparity goes beyond symbolism. A primetime slot on Court Philippe Chatrier offers the largest possible audience in France, Europe and the US. By reserving that exposure almost exclusively for men, Roland Garros has effectively signaled which part of the draw it considers the main attraction. The choice to schedule Sabalenka-Osaka now — when both are top-16 seeds and major champions — may reflect commercial calculation as much as fairness. yet the WTA's recent intervention suggests the issue will not fade with a single match. Unless the tournament commits to structural change, the pattern could simply resume after Monday.