"I think it's too late, we tried to modernize event & I can see that there are adjustments to be made" - Amelie Mauresmo on controversial night sessions at French Open
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo stated that the French Open needs some tweaks regarding scheduling, which is something she and the organizers will discuss at the end of this year's tournament. Mauresmo said scheduling two matches for the night session or moving the start time would help in making the schedule more "fair".
"So I feel that next year in order to be able to be more fair to the to the women's player, as well as the to both categories actually," Mauresmo told the Tennis Channel. "It's it would be good to maybe have the possibility to put two matches, or maybe a women's match and a doubles match."
"I'm in it to try to find a better solution to be fair, to, to everyone," she added. "I also think it's too late [the night session starting time], but, you know, we tried to modernize the events, which was to move forward. And I can see that there are some adjustments to be made, that's for sure. And we're gonna talk about it after the tournament."
Mauresmo's comments on scheduling only one women's match for the night sessions at the 2022 French Open drew a range of angry reactions from the tennis fraternity.
Her reasoning that women's matches had a lesser appeal than men's matches drew flak from players including World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who described the Frenchwoman's comments as "disappointing".
.@AmeMauresmo discusses her comments made about the Roland Garros night session scheduling.
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Mauresmo, however, has come forward in defense of her comments, saying that some of her words were taken out of context. The former Grand Slam champion offered an apology to the players who were hurt by her comments. She was quick to add that she has been an advocate for equal rights all her life both on and off court.
"I think the comments, first of all the comments that I made, I realized we're taking out of the like the wider picture out of the context," Mauremso said. "And I want to say sorry to the players that really felt bad about what I said again."
"I think the people know me who've known me on and off the courts throughout my career throughout everything that I've done," she continued. "They know that I'm a big fighter for equal rights and women's tennis and women in general."
"I took over this year, but these parts I didn't decide" - Amelie Mauresmo on French Open scheduling
During the interview, Mauresmo also elaborated on her earlier comments, saying that with only one match being scheduled for the night sessions, she found it harder to give that slot to a three-set women's match.
The Frenchwoman added that the decisions were made thinking that it would be easier for the audience to buy night session tickets for longer men's matches.
"I have to say concerning the scheduling specifically for the night matches," Mauresmo said. "My say was that because we have one match, only the ticket holders. I feel that it's really tougher to to schedule a women's match because we have to take into consideration the length."
"I feel that's the fair kind of thing to do for the ticket holder and and in this regard," she continued. "I really want to see if next year... because I took over this year, but these parts I didn't decide."