As world number one Aryna Sabalenka squared off against Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng in what should have been a marquee quarter-final encounter at Roland Garros, the atmosphere on Court Philippe-Chatrier was conspicuously subdued. Vast swathes of empty seats bore silent witness to the early-morning clash, an image that has prompted renewed scrutiny of the French Open’s scheduling practices.
French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo has now acknowledged the problem and pledged that organisers will revisit current policies to ensure stronger spectator engagement in the future.
Despite the match’s significance, the 11 a.m. start time seemed to clash with France’s cultural affinity for relaxed midday dining. Although the level of tennis was undeniably high, the sight of a nearly empty stadium diminished the sense of occasion.
Mauresmo told reporters: "We are aware of this, and we will definitely work on the solutions that we can find for the future. In two weeks we have our debrief all together and definitely talk about these subjects and see how we can make it work better.".
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Nevertheless, the episode has reignited broader conversations about how women’s tennis is positioned at Grand Slam events. The underrepresentation of women’s matches in evening prime-time slots remains a contentious issue. Mauresmo, however, reiterated that the disparity stems from practical concerns rather than gender bias.
She stated: "I think we wouldn’t be having this conversation if we would have the same format for both games, because in my opinion it’s the length or the possible length of the match that is making it hard for us in terms of scheduling,".
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In a further nod to tradition under review, Roland Garros remains the only major tournament to still employ human line judges, a practice gradually being phased out elsewhere in favour of automated line-calling systems. While technology remains less reliable on clay due to the surface’s nuanced marks, Mauresmo indicated that change may not be far off.
"Generally speaking, we had a very high level and this is a very great satisfaction for us, because, as you know, we are the last of the Mohicans to some extent with the line judges,” she said. “We will be looking at it again this year, in what way would there not be line judges next year. I don’t really have the answer to that, but we will look at that question.".
As Roland Garros looks toward 2026, Mauresmo’s remarks highlight a broader tension within the tournament: how to honour tradition while embracing the need for change. Whether future mornings on Court Philippe-Chatrier will ring with applause instead of silence remains uncertain. For now, however, the French Open’s leadership seems prepared to listen and, more importantly, to respond.
Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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