'So much more we can do': Former British player lambasts French Open organisers for promoting 'double standards'

Former British tennis player Anne Keothavong has also criticised the French Open authorities for giving preference to men’s tennis players during the night matches. The second Grand Slam of the year is moving towards the business end where remaining players are giving their all to secure the ultimate prize.

Roland Garros, as a competition, is facing criticism for its double standards while dealing with men’s and women’s tennis. The reason is the authorities' decision to give preference to men’s matches on the main court, which is also known as the Philippe Chatrier Court, at nighttime.

The management introduced the feature of night matches back in 2021. In 2022 and 2023, 90 % of the matches were played at night on the main court. In 2024, that number went up to 100 %. Overall, just four out of 44 matches on the centre court at night featured women’s tennis players. That issue has forced some big-name women’s tennis players to raise objections as well, including the likes of Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur and America’s Coco Gauff. Former British player Keothavong, who is currently working for TNT Sports during the French Open, became another known name who criticised the decision of the French Open organisers. The 41-year-old stated that she believes such actions from the management is showing ‘double standards’.

“Just to add a bit of context, four out of 44 matches scheduled on the Philippe Chatrier Court on the night session,” she said. “It was quiet a confrontational new conference she gave. I do believe Ons Jabeur has a valid point. We haven’t seen nearly as many women’s matches as we would like in that night session. That’s prime time. So many have talked about in the past but you have to see something to believe it. Coco Gauff has spoken about that. As a young girl, watching Venus, Serena, those top female players, strong female players, that’s an example out there on the court, inspired her. But if we are not giving women the space to really perform and show what they are capable of, at prime time, what are we saying? Because it feels little bit like double standards. In so many ways, tennis is leading the way in sport, the Grand Slams where we offer men and women equal prizemoney but there is still so much more we can do around scheduling. Its just not a night match, for me that I am uncomfortable with. Its also the day sessions. So often, we see first match or second match scheduling on Chatre and other show courts, they are women matches. You know it takes time for people to come out here on to the court and filled those stadium courts up. So, we have to look at a bigger picture.”