Swiatek wants equal treatment for women as French Open schedule remains in focus

PARIS :Amid criticism of the French Open's scheduling decisions, Iga Swiatek pointed to the Mexican waves rippling around Court Suzanne Lenglen during her compelling match against Jaqueline Cristian as evidence of women's tennis's entertainment value.

The claycourt major features only one match daily during the primetime evening session that begins after 8.15 p.m. local time (1815 GMT), but has so far not featured a women's match in that slot in the opening six days of action.

The last time a women's singles match was played under the lights of Court Philippe Chatrier was the fourth-round meeting between Aryna Sabalenka and Sloane Stephens on June 4, 2023.

Defending women's champion Swiatek, who overcame Cristian of Romania 6-2 7-5, said she usually adjusts to the schedule she is given but added that it should be "equal".

"Women's matches can be entertainment the same way (as men's matches). As you could see today on my match, they (fans) were doing the Mexican waves and everything. So people like it," Swiatek told reporters.

"We can put on a nice show. That's why I think it should be equal. That's it."

Women's governing body the WTA told Reuters via email it encourages all combined tournaments to provide a balanced match schedule that showcases the best of both women's and men's tennis in premium scheduling slots.

Three-times Grand Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur reignited a debate that has raged since night sessions were introduced at Roland Garros four years ago, saying this week that women's matches were being sidelined.

The Tunisian added in a post on X on Friday that "honouring one side of the sport shouldn't mean ignoring the other".

Night sessions are exclusively broadcast by Amazon's Prime service in France.

French Open