Coco Gauff has spoken out in support of giving women’s matches prime-time night sessions at the French Open, insisting that female players deserve equal visibility on one of tennis’s biggest stages.
The 19-year-old world No. 2 echoed the sentiments recently expressed by fellow WTA star Ons Jabeur, reigniting the ongoing debate about the scheduling of matches at Roland Garros. So far in this year’s tournament, the coveted 8:15 pm evening slots have been reserved exclusively for men’s matches, continuing a trend seen last year when not a single women’s match was scheduled during prime-time.
Jabeur raised concerns after Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation, stated that the match schedule is primarily designed to cater to what is deemed “better for spectators.” This remark sparked criticism from players and fans alike, who argue that women’s tennis generates enough excitement and high-quality play to merit equal treatment in scheduling.
Gauff, fresh off a straight-sets victory over Tereza Valentova to reach the third round, made it clear that she believes women’s matches are fully deserving of night session slots. “I do think that women’s matches are worthy of a night spot,” she said. “I definitely agree with Ons when she talks about what’s best for the fans, but I feel like we produce some high-quality tennis and have some great stars on the women’s side who fans would be excited to see.”
Reflecting on her own experience, Gauff highlighted how night matches at other Grand Slams have drawn enthusiastic crowds regardless of whether she was playing before or after male superstars. “From my experience playing at the US Open, a night match at 7 pm with Novak [Djokovic] following me – and he’s the greatest player of all time – people were almost just as excited to see me play as him,” she said. “It’s similar in Australia and other tournaments. I definitely think there is opportunity to improve that at this tournament in the future.”
The topic of women’s visibility on tennis’s biggest stages has been a hot-button issue in recent years, with many players pushing for equality in prize money, media coverage, and scheduling. While the French Open offers equal prize money for men and women, the question of whether the women’s matches receive equal treatment in terms of prime-time TV exposure remains contentious.
Amelie Mauresmo, the tournament director at Roland Garros, is expected to address the scheduling issue at an upcoming press conference. Her response will be closely watched as pressure mounts for the French Open to align more closely with other Grand Slams, such as the US Open and Australian Open, which have increasingly featured women’s matches during prime-time slots.
Meanwhile, American tennis has enjoyed a strong showing at this year’s French Open, with 22 U.S. players advancing to the second round – the highest number in over three decades. Of these, 14 are women, marking the most American women to reach the second round since 1987. The men’s contingent also made a notable impact with eight players moving on.
Among the women advancing to the third round after recent wins are some of the top seeds: third-seeded Jessica Pegula, seventh-seeded Madison Keys, and 31st-seeded Sofia Kenin, along with rising star Hailey Baptiste. Their success highlights the depth of talent in American women’s tennis and adds weight to the argument that the sport’s top female players deserve greater prominence during prime-time broadcast windows.
As the tournament progresses, the push for equitable scheduling continues to gain momentum, driven by players like Gauff and Jabeur who are not only competing at the highest level but also advocating for the visibility and recognition women’s tennis merits on the global stage. With the spotlight on the issue and the growing success of women players at Roland Garros, it seems likely that future editions of the French Open will see more women’s matches featured during the tournament’s most-watched time slots.
