Aryna Sabalenka Joins Growing Calls for Gender Equality in Roland Garros Match Scheduling

Following win over Qinwen Zheng, Aryna Sabalenka is set to face off Iga Swiatek in the Roland Garros semifinals.

Aryna Sabalenka Joins Growing Calls for Gender Equality in Roland Garros Match Scheduling

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka expressed her frustration with the scheduling of her quarterfinal match against Zheng Qinwen, adding to the ongoing debate about gender inequality at the French Open. Her comments come as part of a larger controversy around the lack of evening matches featuring women’s tennis.

The tournament has faced repeated criticism since introducing the night session. Many believe women’s matches are being overlooked in prime-time slots. Former Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur also raised concerns, suggesting that organizers are undervaluing women’s tennis. Sabalenka said in her Roland Garros press conference:

I definitely agree with that. I definitely have to say that yeah we deserve equal treatment, like you said. There were a lot of great battles that would be cool to see as a night session. More people in the stands watching these incredible battles. Just to show our self to more people. I definitely agree that we deserve to be put on a bigger stage, better timing, more people watching.

The issue gained more traction after French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton claimed better matches were needed for the night schedule. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo avoided addressing these concerns directly, declining to comment during a recent press conference.

While many female players have avoided the broader discussion, Sabalenka made it clear she supports giving fans more chances to watch women’s tennis. Her comments highlight the need for greater visibility and fairness in scheduling decisions at Grand Slam events.

Iga Swiatek gets to a major Roland Garros milestone before Aryna Sabalenka clash

Iga Swiatek extended her dominant run at the French Open with a straight-sets victory over Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. The world No. 1 defeated the 14th seed 6-1, 7-5 on Court Philippe-Chatrier to continue her quest for a fourth consecutive title in Paris.

Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (Image via WTA/X)

Although the first set ended with a lopsided score, Swiatek had to dig deep against the experienced Ukrainian. Svitolina, 30, pushed her early in the match, and in the second set, she led 3-1 before Swiatek fought back to close out the win in two sets.

This win marked Swiatek’s 26th straight match victory at Roland Garros. With that, she moved past Monica Seles for the second-longest women’s winning streak in tournament history. Only Chris Evert’s 29-match streak remains ahead.

The Pole also matched Serena Williams’ record for the longest winning run at a Grand Slam event this century. Williams won 26 straight matches at the US Open between 2012 and 2015. Swiatek now has a chance to surpass both records in the semifinals.

Aryna Sabalenka storms into second Roland Garros semifinal

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka reached the semifinals at Roland Garros after defeating eighth seed Zheng Qinwen. She recovered from a 4-2 deficit in the first set to secure a 7-6(3), 6-3 win. This marks her seventh semifinal appearance of the season.

Aryna Sabalenka Roland Garros French Open 2025
Aryna Sabalenka (image via Instagram/WTA)

With this victory, Sabalenka has now reached 11 Grand Slam semifinals, a milestone last matched by Maria Sharapova in 2011. This is also her second semifinal in Paris, the previous one being in 2023 when she lost in three sets to Karolina Muchova.

Sabalenka is aiming to reach her sixth major final and her first at Roland Garros. To do so, she must overcome No. 5 seed Iga Swiatek in their 13th head-to-head meeting. The match promises high intensity as both players continue their long-standing rivalry.

Before May, Sabalenka had won all six of her previous matches against Zheng, dropping just one set. However, Zheng broke that streak on clay in Rome with a commanding 6-4, 6-3 win, setting the stage for a more competitive matchup in Paris.

Also Read: Daria Kasatkina Surprised at How Fast Mirra Andreeva Has “Grown a Lot” After Losing to the Teenager at the Roland Garros