French Open bosses in conflict with TV broadcaster after rejecting schedule request | Tennis | Sport
French Open chiefs have reportedly been accused of snubbing the chance to host Roland Garros hero Lois Boisson in one of their evening matches. A quarter-final victory over Mirra Andreeva has landed the world No. 361 a surprise place in the semi-finals.
It has been claimed that a request to stage her fourth-round triumph over Jessica Pegula was ignored by tournament bosses when they were picking the schedule for June 2’s evening session. The alleged snub forms part of an ongoing row over accusations that the French Open is prioritising men’s matches for its most high-profile slots. For the second year in a row, no women’s match has been played in the evening slot, to which broadcasting rights holder Amazon Prime has exclusive access. Women’s players have also opened each day’s play on Court Philippe-Chatrier, at a time when the stadium is at its most sparse.
According to The Athletic, Amazon Prime submitted a request to schedule Boisson’s clash with Pegula in the evening. Home favourite Boisson, 22, has attracted vast crowds to her matches, and several opponents have been left shaken by the vociferously partisan backing of the Parisian public.
However, the report adds that Amazon Prime bosses were denied their wish. Boisson beat Pegula in three sets earlier in the day on June 2, with Jannik Sinner comfortably easing past Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the evening instead.
Although the match started inside a relatively empty Court Philippe-Chatrier, plenty of empty seats were soon snapped up as Boisson came from behind to beat Pegula. Her remarkable run will see her face Coco Gauff in the semi-final today.
French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo has denied that the men are being prioritised over women. The former world No. 1 insisted that women are ‘worthy’ of the slot, but that the fact men’s matches have the potential to last longer has seen them handed the evening slot. The final match of the day, which takes place no later than 8.15pm local time, is billed as “one great match” on the tournament’s website.
When asked if women were not considered ‘worthy’ of the evening slot, Mauresmo said: “That’s not what we’re saying. I have to stop you right there. For me, the message that I always said, and I will repeat, is the conditions have not changed of having one unique match in the evening.
“The message has never been the girls are not worthy of playing at night. That’s not the message I want you to carry.”
Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation, said earlier this week that the schedule is decided based on “what is better for spectators”.
