French Open night session policy under scrutiny as Sabalenka faces Osaka
The fourth-round clash marks the first women’s fixture in the primetime slot since 2023, following discussions between WTA chief executive Valerie Camillo and tournament director Amelie Mauresmo regarding scheduling equity.
Aryna Sabalenka’s fourth-round match against Naomi Osaka at the 2026 French Open will be the first women’s singles fixture scheduled for the night-time slot on Court Philippe Chatrier since 2023. The scheduling decision addresses ongoing concerns regarding the limited allocation of primetime sessions to women’s tennis, a topic recently discussed between WTA chief executive Valerie Camillo and tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.
Since the introduction of one-match evening sessions in 2021, only four of the first 60 slots on Court Philippe Chatrier have featured women’s tennis. Sabalenka and Osaka’s contest will be the fifth. Each of the previous 32 primetime sessions had been allocated to men’s matches, with the event aiming to showcase the sport to the largest possible audience in France, Europe and the US.
The scheduling choice follows an open and productive conversation between Camillo and Mauresmo at Roland Garros this week. Camillo emphasised the quality of women’s competition, noting that female players have delivered some of the most exciting and dynamic competition in global sport in recent years. Mauresmo has previously justified the allocation of men’s matches to night slots by arguing that women’s matches tend to finish quickly.
Osaka, the 16th seed and a four-time Grand Slam champion, stated on Saturday that she does not even associate the French Open with night matches. She described the evening slot as reserved for popcorn matches and indicated she was easy going about the time of day she plays. The top-seeded Sabalenka is seeking her first title at Roland Garros as she looks to add to her tally of four major titles.
Mauresmo has insisted that night sessions will not be extended to two matches, citing concerns about late finishes. This policy differs from the Australian Open and US Open. Tickets for the 2026 night session matches range from €60 to €280. The match comes after previous players, including Jessica Pegula and Ons Jabeur, voiced frustration over the lack of primetime opportunities for women’s tennis.
