“Beyond disappointed, pathetic” – Fans riled up after French Open snubs Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka again for night schedule in QF
French Open 2025: Fans Slam ‘Pathetic’ Scheduling as Swiatek, Sabalenka Snubbed for Night Session
The French Open 2025 has reignited a firestorm of criticism over its scheduling, with fans and players alike expressing outrage after women’s world No. 5 Iga Swiatek and No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka were once again overlooked for the primetime night session in the quarter-finals on June 3, 2025. The decision to feature men’s matches, specifically Tommy Paul vs. Carlos Alcaraz, in the coveted 8:15 p.m. slot on Court Philippe-Chatrier, while relegating Swiatek’s clash with Elina Svitolina and Sabalenka’s match against Qinwen Zheng to daytime, has fueled accusations of gender bias. Fans on X vented their frustration, with one writing, “Beyond disappointed, pathetic. Give us a statement why men are a better night draw than women,” per *Sportskeeda*. Another fumed, “4x champion and @rolandgarros couldn’t put Iga on a night session. That does not make sense.”[](https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-beyond-disappointed-pathetic-fans-riled-french-open-snubs-iga-swiatek-aryna-sabalenka-night-schedule-qf)
The scheduling controversy, a recurring issue at Roland Garros, has drawn sharp criticism from players like Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula, who have condemned the tournament’s apparent preference for men’s matches. Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, addressed the issue after her 6-2, 7-5 win over Jaqueline Cristian, noting the electric atmosphere created by Mexican waves during her match as evidence of women’s tennis’ entertainment value. “Women’s matches can be entertainment the same way as men’s matches,” she told *News18*, advocating for equal treatment. Sabalenka, who advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Amanda Anisimova, expressed her hunger to stay in Paris “until the very last day,” per *BBC Sport*, but her daytime slot denied her the spotlight she’s earned as the top seed.[](https://www.news18.com/sports/fans-were-swiatek-wants-equal-treatment-amidst-french-open-scheduling-criticism-ws-d-9361151.html)[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/c0eq542wj5go)
Critics argue the decision reflects a business-driven bias, as men’s matches reportedly sell more tickets, but fans counter that high-caliber women’s matchups like Swiatek vs. Svitolina or Sabalenka vs. Zheng—both with Grand Slam pedigree—are equally compelling. “So has there not been a single women’s match in the night session the whole tournament?!” one X user posted, highlighting that no women’s match has featured in the primetime slot through the first six days, a stark contrast to the 2023 Sabalenka-Stephens night match. Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo, the only woman leading a Grand Slam, has faced scrutiny, with one X post sarcastically noting, “French Open the only slam with a woman director and idiots criticize the schedule every year,” defending the choices but ignoring the lack of women’s representation.[]
Swiatek’s thrilling 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 comeback against Elena Rybakina and Sabalenka’s tactical evolution, incorporating drop shots to outmaneuver Anisimova, underscore the quality of women’s tennis being sidelined. With a potential Swiatek-Sabalenka semi-final looming—their first major clash since Cincinnati 2024—fans argue Roland Garros is missing a chance to showcase a blockbuster rivalry. As Swiatek, dubbed the “Queen of Clay,” and Sabalenka, with her 34-6 2025 record, battle for supremacy, the scheduling snub feels like a disservice to their brilliance, leaving fans and players demanding change.[]
