It’s hard to imagine that the top-ranked player in women’s tennis would have to battle not only her opponent but also an empty stadium. Yet, that’s exactly what happened to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 French Open. Despite her status as the World No. 1 and a three-time Grand Slam champion, the Belarusian star found herself playing in front of a largely empty Court Philippe-Chatrier during the early morning hours of the tournament.
Sabalenka faced China’s Zheng Qinwen in the first quarterfinal match on Tuesday. The match started at 11 a.m. sharp, with large sections of the 15,000-seat stadium noticeably vacant as play began. While it’s not uncommon for empty seats to be visible during the first few hours of play at the French Open, where many ticket holders arrive late or take a lunch break, the sight left Sabalenka questioning whether the scheduling of her match was fair.
After her 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory, Sabalenka addressed the situation, pointing out that such an important match could have attracted more fans had it been scheduled later in the day. “It was a big match, and probably it would make more sense to put us a little bit later just so more people could watch it,” Sabalenka said. She further added, “I definitely think that would make more sense to kind of like move our match for a little bit later.”
Her comments reflect a broader concern that has been a topic of discussion in tennis circles for quite some time: the scheduling of women’s matches, particularly in the earlier rounds of major tournaments. While the French Open, like many Grand Slam tournaments, does schedule both men’s and women’s matches throughout the day, the higher-profile matches of the men tend to get the coveted evening slots. These later timeslots are often seen as the prime viewing hours, allowing for a bigger television audience and attracting more fans in the stands. For women’s matches like Sabalenka’s, however, starting at 11 a.m. can feel like a disadvantage.
For Sabalenka, this situation isn’t just about the lack of spectators but also about fairness. Given her success and stature in the sport, she feels her matches deserve the same level of visibility as the men’s, especially during important stages of a Grand Slam. “It’s not fair,” she said, expressing her frustration over the situation.
This issue isn’t new for the French Open or any major tournament, for that matter. It’s been an ongoing conversation in tennis about the need for better representation and scheduling for women athletes. Amélie Mauresmo, the French Open tournament director and former French tennis star, has long advocated for a more equitable approach to scheduling. However, creating a more balanced system between day and night sessions has proven difficult, and the disparity in scheduling remains a challenge.
Women’s tennis has seen significant growth in recent years, with players like Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, and Coco Gauff drawing huge crowds and delivering thrilling performances. Yet, the scheduling issue persists, leaving some of the sport’s biggest stars playing in front of empty seats, despite their on-court accomplishments.
As the debate over scheduling continues, one thing is clear: Sabalenka and her fellow female athletes deserve the same opportunities for exposure and visibility as their male counterparts. Whether it’s a matter of fair scheduling or better representation, it’s time for the French Open and other major tournaments to take a closer look at how they treat women’s matches.
The hope is that as women’s tennis continues to thrive, changes will be made to ensure that all players, regardless of gender, receive equal treatment and opportunities to shine on the sport’s biggest stages. For now, though, players like Sabalenka will continue to push for fairness, both on and off the court, as they aim for more than just victory—they’re fighting for equal recognition in a sport that they’ve helped elevate to new heights.