Sports
Ons Jabeur in French Open row over sexist scheduling
The two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur has slammed sexist scheduling at the French Open, after her thrilling quarter-final against Coco Gauff landed in the so-called “graveyard slot” at 11am.
While the final set of Gauff’s 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 comeback win was played out in front of a large and vocal crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier, the early stages – which produced some stylish strokeplay from Jabeur – had been sparsely attended.
“Frankly, playing a quarter-final at 11am is really such a chore,” said Jabeur. “We deserve to be here. Playing in the afternoon is better. There is going to be more people watching us and the stadiums are crowded.
“I have a lot to say on that topic [of scheduling],” Jabeur added. “Ten night matches without any women playing. I really hope that 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 that late for men after midnight is not a good thing.”
Jabeur is only the latest player to weigh into the organisation of this French Open. We have heard various broadsides from the likes of David Goffin, who complained about the rowdiness of the crowd on Court 14, and Novak Djokovic, who blamed a slippery court surface for his torn knee meniscus.
But world No.1 Iga Swiatek declined to criticise the scheduling on Tuesday. Like her idol Rafael Nadal, Swiatek much prefers playing under the sun – which has finally been spotted in Paris over the past two days – and wants to stay as far away from the French Open’s cold and uninspiring night sessions as possible.
“I don’t care,” said Swiatek, when asked about the all-male night sessions. “I like playing during the day, so it’s comfortable for me that I can be scheduled that way.”
Swiatek would be a particularly difficult player to schedule at night in any case, because the night session consists of just a single match, and she polishes most opponents off so quickly. On Tuesday, she needed only 62 minutes to dispose of Marketa Vondrousova – the reigning Wimbledon champion – by a 6-0, 6-2 scoreline.
Indeed, until Vondrousova finally held serve in the second game of the second set, Swiatek had won three straight 6-0 “bagel” sets and 20 successive games, stretching from the end of her third-round win over Marie Bouzkova through the total wipeout of Anastasia Potapova and on to this latest demolition job.
“She’s way better than anyone else on clay, and especially here,” said Vondrousova, who looked keen to get out of Paris and onto the grass. “She pushes you every rally. I feel like you just go crazy every point.”