WTA calls for women to get fair share of French Open prime time slots

PARIS : The WTA has called for a balanced match schedule at the French Open that gives women's players their fair share of prime time billing after the Grand Slam featured men's matches in all 11 evening session slots this year.

In France, Amazon's Prime Video has exclusive broadcasting rights for the major's evening sessions, which run from the first round to the quarter-finals, and only one women's match was chosen to be the evening showpiece in both 2022 and 2023.

Tournament organisers missed an opportunity to highlight the blockbuster second round clash featuring defending champion Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka in the evening, with that three-setter hailed as one of the matches of the tournament so far.

"The generation and depth of talent we are currently witnessing in the sport is incredible," the governing body of women's tennis said in a statement.

"Fans want to see the excitement and thrill of women's tennis on the biggest stages and in the premium time slots.

"To continue building the value of our combined product, a balanced match schedule that features both the best in men's and women's tennis is critical."

French Open organisers did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Tournament director and twice Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo had said last year they could "do better" on evening scheduling and Tunisian eighth seed Ons Jabeur was less than happy to play her quarter-final in the morning this year.

"I would have loved a quarter-final at night, not at 11 a.m. For me, it doesn't make sense... I don't know the broadcasts. I don't know the TV, but yeah, you achieve a quarter-final, it's like 'no, you play at 11'," Jabeur said.

"Honestly, I wish I can see the contract time between both Prime and here