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Coco Gauff is speaking out-and she's not alone. After defeating Tereza Valentova in the second round of the French Open, the American tennis star addressed a growing concern among players and fans alike: the continued exclusion of women's singles from the tournament's marquee night sessions.
Since the introduction of the evening slot at Roland Garros in 2022, only two out of 34 featured matches have been women's singles. So far this year, every night match has been a men's singles contest, while the women's matches have opened the day in front of mostly empty seats.
Gauff and Jabeur challenge the status quo
Tunisian star Ons Jabeur sparked the conversation earlier this week, expressing her frustration over the lack of representation for women in the night session. "It's still sad that we are still seeing this," she said on Wednesday. "I keep standing by my words."
Gauff echoed that sentiment on Thursday, suggesting that the scheduling decisions aren't just outdated-they're unfair. "Women's matches are worthy of a night spot," she said, pointing to the popularity and quality of women's tennis as reason enough for a change.
Prime time should mean equal time
Gauff didn't just advocate for more balance; she also laid out a clear concern about how women are slotted when given the night stage. "If they're going to put one match at 8:15, for sure there could be an opportunity to put a woman there," she said. "If they put two, I don't think a woman should play after the men. I just think that's unfair."
She noted the exhaustion that comes from matches starting near midnight-something players, regardless of gender, shouldn't have to deal with.
Stars the crowd wants to see
Beyond fairness, Gauff believes fans are ready-and eager-to see women shine in the spotlight. Reflecting on her own experience at other Grand Slams, she noted how packed and energized the crowds have been, even when sharing the stage with legends like Novak Djokovic.
"We produce high-quality tennis," she said. "And we have great stars that fans want to see."
Roland Garros may need to rethink its scheduling game plan.