French Open Schedules Sabalenka vs Osaka as First Women's Night Match Since 2023

The French Open will stage a women's match in its night session on Monday for the first time in three years. The fourth-round match between world No. m.

At Roland Garros. The night session was introduced in 2021. Since then, only four of the first 60 night matches have been women's singles, and none have occurred since 2023. The last women's night match also featured Sabalenka, who defeated Sloane Stephens that year.

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo has been criticized for reserving the primetime slot almost exclusively for men's singles. Mauresmo has defended the practice by citing value for ticket holders and noting that women's best-of-three sets matches can finish quickly. New WTA chair Valerie Camillo met Mauresmo at Roland Garros this week and called for greater representation of women's matches.

The top half of the men's draw features few household names, which contributed to the decision to schedule the Sabalenka-Osaka match at night. Sabalenka leads Osaka 2-1 in their career meetings. Osaka has reached the fourth round in Paris for the first time.

"I'm just ready for the fight," Sabalenka said. "It's great to see her back on her level. " Osaka said she does not associate the French Open with night matches. "I'm so used to not playing night matches here and playing night matches in the US Open or something like that that I don't even associate this tournament with night matches," she said.

ESPN reported the schedule on May 31, 2026.