Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur has condemned sexist scheduling at the French Open after her thrilling quarter-final against Coco Gauff at 11am ended up in the so-called ‘graveyard slot’.
While the final set of Gauff’s 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 comeback victory was played in front of a large and boisterous crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier, the early stages – which produced stylish stroke play from Jabeur – were sparse. attended.
“Honestly, playing a quarter-final at 11 a.m. is such a chore,” Jabeur said. “We deserve to be here. Playing in the afternoon is better. There will be more people watching us and the stadiums will be packed.
“I have a lot to say on that subject [of scheduling]” added Jabeur. “Ten evening matches without any women playing. I really hope I can see the contract negotiated with Prime [Video, who screen the night sessions]. I really don’t understand the ins and outs, even for men. Playing this late for men after midnight is not a good thing.”
Jabeur is only the latest player to play a role in the organization of this French Open. We’ve heard several comments from the likes of David Goffin, who complained about the rowdiness of the crowd on court 14, and Novak Djokovic, who blamed a slippery surface for his torn knee meniscus.
But world number 1 Iga Swiatek refused to criticize the scheduling on Tuesday. Like her idol Rafael Nadal, Swiatek prefers to play in the sun – which has finally been spotted in Paris over the past two days – and wants to stay as far away as possible from the cold and uninspiring night sessions of the French Open.
“I don’t care,” Swiatek said, when asked about the all-male late-night sessions. “I like to play during the day, so it’s nice for me that I can be scheduled this way.”
In any case, Swiatek would be a particularly difficult player to schedule in the evening, because the night session consists of only one match and she wipes out most opponents so quickly. On Tuesday, she needed just 62 minutes to dispose of Marketa Vondrousova – the reigning Wimbledon champion – 6-0, 6-2.
Until Vondrousova finally held serve in the second game of the second set, Swiatek had won three consecutive 6-0 bagel sets and twenty straight games, stretching from the end of her third-round victory over Marie Bouzkova to and with the total wipeout. by Anastasia Potapova and on to this final demolition job.
“She is much better than anyone on clay, and especially here,” said Vondrousova, who was looking forward to leaving Paris and taking to the grass. “She pushes you every rally. I feel like you’re going crazy at every point.
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