WTA Challenges French Open Over Women's Match Scheduling Disparities
WTA's war with French Open over Coco Gauff, Swiatek, Sabalenka & co. facing schedule snub: All you should know
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The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has criticized the 2026 French Open for prioritizing men's matches in night sessions, sidelining prominent female players like Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek. WTA chairperson Valerie Camillo has raised concerns about the limited representation of women's matches in prime slots, despite a stacked women's draw this year.
- 01Only four out of 50 night-session matches in the last five years featured women players.
- 02WTA chairperson Valerie Camillo met with tournament director Amélie Mauresmo to address scheduling concerns.
- 03The men's draw lacks compelling storylines this year, especially with Carlos Alcaraz's absence.
- 04Coco Gauff participated in a players' protest demanding a larger share of tournament revenues.
- 05Gauff highlighted the financial struggles of lower-ranked players in professional tennis.
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The 2026 French Open has faced criticism from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for its scheduling practices, particularly regarding the exclusion of women's matches from prime-time slots. Despite featuring top players like Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka, women's matches have been largely sidelined, with only four night-session matches featuring women since 2021. WTA chairperson Valerie Camillo raised these concerns with tournament director Amélie Mauresmo, who defended the scheduling by citing the longer duration of men's matches. This year, the women's draw is notably competitive, while the men's lacks star power, especially with the absence of Carlos Alcaraz. In a show of solidarity, Coco Gauff joined a protest during a press conference, advocating for a greater share of tournament revenues, emphasizing the financial challenges faced by lower-ranked players. Gauff won her first-round match against Taylor Townsend and is set to face Mayar Sheriff next.
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The scheduling disparities at the French Open could affect the visibility and earnings of female players, particularly those ranked lower.
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