Coco Gauff makes her feelings clear after Iga Swiatek dismissed French Open prioritizing men’s players in schedule
Coco Gauff shared her perspective on the French Open 2025 scheduling controversy, where public sentiment suggests men’s matches are prioritized for the prime 8:15 PM night slot on Court Philippe-Chatrier. After Iga Swiatek, the world No. 1, dismissed the notion with a blunt “no” during a press conference, Gauff offered a nuanced view following her 6-2, 6-2 first-round win over Olivia Gadecki on May 27. Gauff noted the unique challenge of Roland Garros’ single night match slot, saying, “I don’t think any girl—I mean, prove me wrong, but I don’t think anyone wants to play after the 8:15 PM match,” preferring earlier slots to avoid late finishes. She suggested starting night sessions earlier, like 6:30 PM or 7:00 PM, to balance opportunities.
Context of the Controversy
The French Open’s scheduling has drawn criticism, with Ons Jabeur also slamming the prioritization of men’s matches. Gauff acknowledged the issue but emphasized practicality, noting that women’s matches could take some 8:15 PM slots, though late starts after best-of-five men’s matches—potentially past midnight—are undesirable. Her stance contrasts with Swiatek’s curt dismissal, which divided fans. Posts on X, like @VenusGauff’s clarification that Gauff didn’t reject night matches outright but opposed post-8:15 PM starts, highlight her constructive approach.
Gauff’s comments reflect her awareness of gender equity issues, aligning with Jabeur’s advocacy, and Venus Williams’ praise for Gauff’s impact. Her suggestion for earlier night sessions mirrors calls for tennis to evolve, like her 2024 push for video replays after a disputed Swiatek match.
Parallels to Other Sports Narratives
Gauff’s scheduling stance echoes French Open pressures faced by Alex de Minaur, who apologized for an emotional outburst, and Daniil Medvedev’s event-skipping threats. Luke Littler’s focus on performance over theatrics in darts, parallels Gauff’s pragmatic approach. Her rivalry with Swiatek, where she trails 1-11 but won 6-1, 6-1 in Madrid 2025, adds context, as Gauff aims to close the gap.
Conclusion
Coco Gauff clarified her stance on French Open 2025 scheduling, countering Iga Swiatek’s dismissal by suggesting earlier night sessions to address the perceived men’s match bias. Preferring pre-8:15 PM slots to avoid late finishes, Gauff’s solution-oriented view, backed by X posts like @VenusGauff, aligns with Jabeur’s advocacy and reflects her maturity, akin to de Minaur’s resilience and Littler’s focus. As she navigates a favorable draw, Gauff’s leadership on and off the court, praised by Venus Williams, shines through.
