‘No One Really Wants…’ – 19-Year-Old Coco Gauff Dishes Out Unique Take on French Open’s Controversial Night-Session Scheduling Days After Compatriot Sloane Stephens’ Condemnation

Published 06/04/2023, 4:16 PM EDT

In 2021, a major change was introduced to the French Open. The change came in the form of night-session matches, which would take place every night and feature the most high-profile encounters. However, this move generated considerable controversy. The director of the tournament at the time, Guy Forget, came under fire for making the night-session matches predominantly male-based. However, in 2022, the controversy skyrocketed even further after Forget’s replacement, Amelie Mauresmo, stoked fires among women’s players. Mauresmo blatantly claimed that men’s tennis commands greater viewership. This year, 19-year-old American prodigy Coco Gauff weighed in with her two cents on the raging issue ahead of her fourth round match against Slovakian player Anna Karolína Schmiedlová.

Yet again, men’s tennis has stolen the limelight from women’s tennis across the night-session matches. However, Gauff’s opinion was a far cry from most other women’s players who expressed their disappointment at Mauresmo’s comments from 2022.

Coco Gauff claims that the women’s tennis players she’s been in touch with don’t want to play night-session matches

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The 2022 French Open saw a sum total of 10 night-session matches. However, the matches turned out to be heavily leaning towards men’s tennis. All in all, there was only one women’s night-session match. Unsurprisingly, the scheduling inequality became a controversial matter.

At the 2023 French Open, things are continuing in a similar vein. There were no women’s night-session matches across the tournament’s first 6 days. After the fourth day, Gauff’s compatriot, Sloane Stephens expressed her frustration at how things turned out. Stephens is a part of the WTA Players’ Council. According to her, the council isn’t supportive of the scheduling inequality on display at the French Open.

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However, Gauff’s take on the matter was rather unique. The 19-year-old said, “I don’t know if the night session amongst the players is a popular hotspot, to be honest”. Furthermore, she stated, “I guess for the TV and that’s the prime spot, maybe yes, it does suck in that sense”. Gauff concluded saying, “I don’t know if Sloane or Aryna wanted to play at that time, but I know the ones I spoke to, no one really wants the night session.”

Coco Gauff on Roland Garros night session: “I don't know if Sloane or Aryna wanted to play at that time bc it’s late at night. The players I spoke to, no one really wants the night. In that way we were happy with men taking it, but it’s the prime spot. It sucks a bit in that way” pic.twitter.com/TA9jQxxWqo
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 4, 2023

Iga Swiatek was the most high-profile name to speak out against Amelie Mauresmo in 2022

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Mauresmo faced several questions regarding the scheduling of night-session matches in favor of men in 2022. However, her response stunned the majority of the tennis world. Surprisingly, Mauresmo didn’t hesitate at all in saying that men’s matches carry more “appeal” than women’s matches.

Polish tennis sensation Iga Swiatek, the reigning French Open women’s singles champion, was taken aback by Mauresmo’s opinion. Additionally, Swiatek expressed her surprise and disappointment at Mauresmo’s comments.

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Where do you stand on this often talked about issue? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Sudipto is a Tennis writer at EssentiallySports. He completed his graduation in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2012. His passion for writing became a full-time profession in 2019 after working as a musician and travelling educator.

Edited by:

Tony Thomas

‘No One Really Wants…’ – 19-Year-Old Coco Gauff Dishes Out Unique Take on French Open’s Controversial Night-Session Scheduling Days After Compatriot Sloane Stephens’ Condemnation

Coco Gauff claims that the women’s tennis players she’s been in touch with don’t want to play night-session matches

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Iga Swiatek was the most high-profile name to speak out against Amelie Mauresmo in 2022