Ons Jabeur Criticizes French Open’s Scheduling

Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur has voiced her disapproval of the French Open organizers for consistently prioritizing men’s matches in the coveted night slots. She suggested that the decision-makers might not appreciate the implications, quipping, ‘they do not have daughters.’

This week at Roland Garros, all evening matches have featured men, a recurring pattern that has previously led to accusations of gender bias against the organizers.

Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam finalist between 2022 and 2023, expressed her disappointment at the disparity in the treatment of women’s sports.

“It remains disheartening to witness this ongoing situation. In Europe, the lack of support for women’s sports is generally quite evident. I suspect that those responsible for these decisions may not have daughters, as I can’t imagine they would want their own children treated in such a way,” Jabeur stated.

Jabeur further lamented the limited visibility of women’s sports and criticized the arrangement between the Federation and Amazon Prime.

“The situation is somewhat paradoxical. They don’t showcase women’s sports or women’s tennis, yet they question why men receive more viewership. Naturally, men’s sports attract more viewers when they are given greater prominence. It is regrettable that the Federation and Amazon Prime have established such an agreement. Many talented female players deserve the opportunity to compete in those prime time slots,” she concluded.

The French Open introduced night matches in 2021. Since then, male athletes have predominantly occupied these slots. Last year, every one of the eleven-night sessions was dedicated to men’s matches.