When Jack Draper’s Britain faces Gael Monfils at the French Open on Thursday, he will once again highlight a revealing statistic. He is the one who raises the question of whether the Grand Slam de Clay-Court should do more to promote the female game.
Since 2023, a single female match has occupied the night session niche at prospecting hours on the court Philippe Chatrier – a race extending to 19 successive games.
In fact, since the tournament introduced night sessions in 2021, only four games come from the female draw.
It is a striking imbalance that makes the headlines year after year, and of which the former world number two, Jabeur, affects the sport of women as a whole.
“It is unfortunate for female sports in general. Not for tennis, but in general,” said the Grand Slam finalist on Tuesday three times after his release from the first round.
“I hope whoever makes the decision, I don’t think they have girls, because I don’t think they want to treat their daughters like that.
“It’s a bit ironic. They don’t show female sport, they don’t show female tennis, then they ask the question, yes, but above all they (viewers) look at men. Of course, they look more men because you show men more. Everything goes together.”
The last female match in simple to play in the evening at Roland Garros was the victory of the fourth round of Aryna Sabalenka against Sloane Stephens two years ago.
When asked for a comment in response to Jabeur’s comments, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) did not provide one.
Instead, he said that the director of the Amelie Mauresmo tournament “would talk about this subject shortly” with the former world number who should organize a press conference later this week.
