**Jessica Pegula Criticizes French Open Chiefs Over Gender Inequality in Scheduling**
Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3, joined the growing chorus of WTA players slamming French Open organizers for the lack of women’s singles matches in night sessions, claiming tournament chiefs “don’t really care” about addressing the issue, per express.co.uk. Her outspoken comments, made after her third-round win over Marketa Vondrousova on May 31, 2025, at Roland Garros, highlight a persistent gender disparity, resonating with the resilience of athletes like Luke Littler and Chris Evert’s concerns for Jack Draper.
**Pegula’s Frustration**
Pegula expressed exasperation at the absence of women’s singles matches in the first eight days of night sessions on Court Philippe-Chatrier, saying, “Every year it’s the same thing. It’s never equal. They don’t seem to care or want to do anything different about it,” per express.co.uk. As a WTA Player Council member, she noted organizers’ reluctance to change, stating, “I just feel like they don’t listen,” per bbc.co.uk. Pegula supported Ons Jabeur’s emotional social media post, which called for equal treatment, adding, “We are an event that is supposed to be equal. Slams, it’s supposed to be equal,” per skysports.com. She described the advocacy as “hitting my head against the wall,” per bbc.co.uk.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2062579/Jessica-Pegula-Ons-Jabeur-Amelie-Mauresmo-French-Open-row)[](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/cz70y88dpg8o)[](https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/13377476/french-open-jessica-pegula-criticises-schedule-as-players-hit-out-at-lack-of-womens-night-matches)
**Context of the Row**
The scheduling controversy intensified after Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon finalist, criticized organizers for “ignoring” women’s tennis, per express.co.uk. No women’s singles matches were scheduled for night sessions, prompting accusations that female players were deemed “not worthy,” a claim tournament director Amelie Mauresmo rejected, per bbc.co.uk. Coco Gauff also voiced frustration, joining Pegula and Jabeur in demanding fairness, per skysports.com. Pegula’s comments followed a heated exchange where Mauresmo defended her decisions, denying any message that “girls are not worthy,” per express.co.uk. X posts, like @MSports_all, echoed Pegula’s critique, amplifying the debate, per.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2062579/Jessica-Pegula-Ons-Jabeur-Amelie-Mauresmo-French-Open-row)[](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/cz70y88dpg8o)[](https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/13377476/french-open-jessica-pegula-criticises-schedule-as-players-hit-out-at-lack-of-womens-night-matches)
**Pegula’s French Open Journey**
Pegula advanced to the fourth round, defeating Vondrousova and facing Lois Boisson on June 1, per bbc.co.uk. Her 2025 clay season was rocky, with early exits in Madrid and Rome after winning Charleston, per profootballnetwork.com. Notably, she withdrew from the 2024 French Open due to neck and back injuries, missing clay events like Stuttgart and Madrid, per espn.com. Her return, marked by a stronger serve, has her eyeing a deep run, per thetennisgazette.com.[](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/cz70y88dpg8o)[](https://www.profootballnetwork.com/tennis/jessica-pegula-addresses-her-journey-at-french-open/)[](https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/40202177/jessica-pegula-withdraws-french-open-eyes-grass-season)
**Parallels to Resilience**
Pegula’s advocacy mirrors Littler’s defiance against darts crowd boos and his ambition despite Priestley’s doubts, per GBNews.com, Mirror.co.uk. Evert’s warning to Draper about avoiding Raducanu’s media pressures reflects similar challenges of navigating external scrutiny, per tennis365.com. Sabalenka’s defense of Djokovic and Grealish’s potential Arsenal move highlight perseverance, per express.co.uk, FootballTransfers.com. Pegula’s prior criticism of Madrid Open’s sexism in 2023, alongside Gauff, shows her consistent fight for equality, per skysports.com.[](https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12877493/jessica-pegula-blasts-madrid-open-organisers-after-speeches-row-with-tournament-caught-up-in-sexism-row)
**Conclusion**
Jessica Pegula blasted French Open chiefs for ignoring gender equality in night session scheduling, claiming “they don’t really care,” per express.co.uk. Backing Jabeur and Gauff, she called the annual debate futile, per bbc.co.uk. Like Littler’s taunts, Evert’s concerns for Draper, and Sabalenka’s advocacy, Pegula’s stand reflects resilience. She faces Boisson in the fourth round on June 1, live on TNT Sports.[]
