When the French Open introduced night sessions a year ago, just one of the 10 matches scheduled for under the lights in the main stadium featured women.
That drew criticism from Tennis Hall of Famer and equal
rights advocate Billie Jean King, among others — both as a matter of fairness
and because that sort of exposure is the best way to bring more attention to
players.
Well, so far in 2023, all of the first four night sessions
have featured men’s matches.
“If the tournament is not going to change it, then there’s
nothing we can do,” 2017 U.S. Open champion and 2018 French Open finalist
Sloane Stephens said.
Thursday night’s second-round contest in Court Philippe
Chatrier originally was supposed to be France’s Gael Monfils against Denmark’s
Holger Rune, the sixth-seeded man. After Monfils withdrew from the tournament
late Wednesday, that was replaced by 2020 U.S. Open runner-up Alexander Zverev
against Alex Molcan.
WHO ELSE PLAYS THURSDAY?
The remained of the second-round lineup includes defending
champion and No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek against Claire Liu of the United States,
2022 runner-up Coco Gauff against Julia Grabher of Austria, and reigning
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina against teenager Linda Noskova of the Czech
Republic. Top men in action include two-time major finalist Casper Ruud, No. 8
Jannik Sinner and No. 12 Frances Tiafoe.
WHEN ARE THURSDAY’S MATCHES?
Play begins at 11 a.m. local time in Paris, which is 5 a.m.
EDT, everywhere except the main stadium, Court Philippe Chatrier, where the
first match — Ruud vs. Guilio Zeppieri — is scheduled to start at 11:45 a.m.
local time, which is 5:45 a.m. EDT. Next in Chatrier is Swiatek-Liu, which
could begin around 3 p.m. local time, which is 9 a.m. EDT. Gauff-Grabher is
third in Court Suzanne Lenglen, following Rybakina vs. Noskova, and Sinner vs.
Daniel Altmaier. So Gauff might be on court at around 4 p.m. local time, which
is 10 a.m. EDT. The night session starts at 8:15 p.m., local time which is 2:15
p.m. EDT.
WHAT HAPPENED WEDNESDAY?
Swiatek is the only past French Open champion remaining in
the field because 2017 trophy winner Jelena Ostapenko lost to Peyton Stearns, a
21-year-old American who won the NCAA title for the University of Texas last
year. In men’s action, No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Novak Djokovic both won,
staying on course for a showdown in the semifinals.
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