French Open 2023 - Aryna Sabalenka hopes fans will demand more women's night matches

Aryna Sabalenka hopes there is a demand for more women’s matches to be played in the evening sessions at the French Open after the second seed put on a show to beat Sloane Stephens. The fans were treated to a spectacle on Philippe-Chatrier as Sabalenka won a topsy turvy match 7-6(5) 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals.

Ad The lack of women’s night matches has created plenty of debate at this year’s Roland-Garros, with Eurosport’s Mats Wilanders describing the situation as “ridiculous”. Roland-GarrosStephens v Sabalenka — French Open highlights2 HOURS AGO In an exclusive interview with Eurosport on Sunday, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo addressed the issue.

Sabalenka stresses that while there was no “extra pressure” to be involved in such a match, she admits that she was nervous about the turnout ahead of the showdown. Speaking exclusively in the Eurosport’s Cube, the Australian Open winner said: “I just saw a couple of days that people didn't like that they put a woman's match at night, so I wasn't sure what's going to happen.

I thought people will not come to watch us play. Novak Djokovic awaiting return of great rival Rafael Nadal — 'we want to see a healthy Rafa' Novak Djokovic produces dominant display to march into French Open quarter-finals Elina Svitolina ousts Daria Kasatkina to book quarter-final place “I was surprised there was a lot of people and they were going crazy.

I think, and I hope, that they enjoyed our match and they will ask her for women’s matches at night.” Sabalenka was relieved, too, to get the better of Stephens, who provided a stern test of her credentials. After building a commanding 5-0 lead to start the match, Stephens made a remarkable comeback, pushing the first set into a tiebreak.