“More appeal for the mens” — French Open director defends scheduling

The second grand slam for the season has raised eyebrows for featuring just one women’s night match

Director Amelie Mauresmo has defended the scheduling at this years French Open saying women’s tennis has less “appeal” than mens.

Women have filled one of the 10 available primetime night slots at the current edition of Roland-Garros.

Mauresmo, a former world number one, is overseeing her first tournament after being appointed to the role of director last year.

Night slots are generally reserved for the biggest matches, as earlier in the week when men’s heavyweights Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic contested the evening session.

Mauresmo says it has been difficult to find a top billing women’s match.

“The fact that it’s right now a one-match night session is tough on this. It is tough.”

“But yes, I admit it was tough. It was tough for more than one night to find, as you say, the match of the day,” she says.

Women’s world number one Iga Swiatek says Mauresmo’s comments are “disappointing and surprising” after her quarterfinal victory over American Jessica Pegula.

The match took place in the afternoon despite featuring two highly ranked players. Pegula currently sits just outside the women’s top 10.

Instead, mens number eight Casper Ruud and the unseeded Holger Rune filled the evening slot.

Bryan Hoadley contributed to this report