Ons Jabeur slams French Open, broadcaster Amazon for sidelining women’s matches
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Tunisia's Ons Jabeur lost her first-round match at Roland Garros on May 27, against Poland's Magdalena Frech.
PHOTO: AFP
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PARIS – Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur slammed French Open organisers and broadcaster Amazon on May 27 for sidelining women’s matches from the coveted night sessions, with none featured at the Grand Slam in almost two years.
The last women’s singles match to be played under the lights of Court Philippe-Chatrier was a last-16 encounter between Aryna Sabalenka and Sloane Stephens on June 4, 2023.
The French Open has one evening match, this year starting not before 8.15pm local time (2.15am in Singapore) and in France is exclusively broadcast by Amazon’s Prime service.
“In Europe, in general, it’s unfortunate for women’s sports in general. Not for tennis but for in general,” Jabeur said, after losing her first-round match 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 to Magdalena Frech at Roland Garros.
“I hope whoever is making the decision, I don’t think they have daughters, because I don’t think they want to treat their daughters like this.
“It’s a bit ironic. They don’t show women’s sport, they don’t show women’s tennis, and then they ask the question... Of course they watch men more because you show men more. Everything goes together.”
French tennis federation president Gilles Moretton had defended the tournament’s choices, saying on May 26 that the “best match” was scheduled at night.
“Sometimes... for the night session, we need to put the better match, we think could be for the spectators,” Moretton told a press conference.
“Maybe we will have a few, I have no idea, a few female matches on the night sessions. We’ll see. Depends on the schedule, who is playing who, which will be the best match.”
Reuters has asked Amazon Prime for comment.
The night session for May 28 was scheduled to feature France’s Hugo Gaston against American Ben Shelton before Gaston withdrew from their second-round meeting.
Organisers revised the schedule and it was changed to Danish 10th seed Holger Rune against Emilio Nava of the United States.
In the women’s draw, four-time winner and defending champion Iga Swiatek took on 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu – a clash of significant magnitude – during the day.
The WTA addressed the topic of unequal distribution of matches in the evening session in 2024 by saying that fans wanted to see the excitement and thrill of women's tennis on the biggest stage and in 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,” the elite women’s body said then.
Jabeur remains disappointed with the scheduling, however.
“It’s a shame from the federation, a shame from Prime, that they made such a contract like this,” she added.
“A lot of great players, they deserve to be there (in the night session). One of the matches was Naomi (Osaka) and Paula (Badosa on May 26). Such an unbelievable match. They were supposed to be there.
“Like last year, Iga and Naomi (Osaka) were supposed to be there. A lot of great matches, they should have been there.
“I’m not sure what kind of fans he (Moretton) is talking about. I know I’m a fan. I will watch that match.”
REUTERS
