French Open reportedly turned down request from broadcaster to play Lois Boisson v Jessica Pegula in night session

Despite recent controversy that has engulfed the French Open organisers surrounding the night session and a lack of WTA players once again, it has been reported by The Athletic that supposedly Amazon Prime requested Lois Boisson v Jessica Pegula in the night session but it was refused.

Boisson has quickly become the story of the tournament. From World No.361, she will now be French No.1 and has beaten Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva back-to-back. She now faces Coco Gauff in the semi-finals.

But it seems that Amazon read the tea leaves early on and wanted the shock win over Pegula on primetime Monday night. They have exclusive rights to the evening session of the tournament. According to The Athletic, the French Open declined to schedule that match on the night session.

The match instead was scheduled in the second slot in the afternoon session. This at a time too where the tournament has received criticism once again for denying top WTA stars the chance to play at night. At first top players including Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff said that they didn't want to play at night.

But the tone changed as soon as Amelie Mauresmo, tournament director had an argument with Matt Futterman of The Athletic about the absence of women's matches on the night session. The line throughout has been that the best of five set men's matches carry better value for money in the evening.

For the second year in a row, there have been no women's matches in the coveted slot and a lot of the time they open Chatrier with hardly no spectators.

“It has never been that the girls are not worthy to play at night,” Mauresmo said. “It’s never been this, and I will not accept that you carry this message.”

Gilles Moretton, president of the FFT chimed too that it is 'what is better for spectators'. A point widely slammed by players and fans. Four matches in 55 night session since their introduction in 2021 has been a hot talking point and also pales in comparison to other Grand Slams who often use a different system to make sure there are two matches and one of each usually.

Boisson also carries the hopes of home fans as their best run in many a year. Something which perhaps wouldn't have been seen against Pegula but can be regarded as an aberration by the organisers.