Madison Keys has continued her Grand Slam winning streak after fighting back to beat compatriot Sofia Kenin at the French Open.
Keys won the Australian Open title back in January, saving a match point en route to lifting her first Grand Slam.
The American has shown some similar signs in Paris, saving three match points to beat former Australian Open champion Kenin.
Despite the dramatic conclusion to her match against Kenin, one of the main talking points from Keys’ post-match press conference concerned scheduling at the French Open this year.
Madison Keys says why Roland Garros is different and responds to Jannik Sinner
The French Open has received much criticism for their scheduling this year, particularly focusing on the lack of night session matches for women.
Since night session matches were introduced in 2021, only four have been women’s matches and there has not been a single women’s match in that night session slot since Aryna Sabalenka played Sloane Stephens in 2023.
Not only have fans complained about the situation, but players, including Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula have also shown their disapproval.
When this topic was brought to Keys, she spoke in her press conference about how this appears to only be an issue at the French Open and believes women’s matches should be given more opportunities.
“I think women typically have night matches everywhere else so I don’t think it’s a point of discussion at other tournaments,” said Keys. “It has obviously been a hot topic here.
“Seeing as there is only one match I think that it’s much different to other tournaments, but I think women’s matches are very entertaining and they have great value and they deserve to be the feature match.”
A journalist in the press conference room followed up, “What’s the solution?”
Keys responded, “The solution is to put them at night.”
While some players have shown their disappointment at the French Open’s decision, ATP world number one Jannik Sinner has made another suggestion.
However, Keys did not appear to want to discuss the topic any further and gave a short answer to Sinner’s comments.
“I don’t get paid enough to make those decisions,” said Keys. “I feel like that is on the tournament directors.”
What has the French Open tournament director said about night sessions?
Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo has been the tournament director of the French Open since 2021.
This topic has been brought to the two-time Grand Slam champion since she took her post four years ago, which got particularly tense in her press conference this year.
In response to a journalist suggesting that this sends a negative message to WTA players and young girls watching, Mauresmo dismissed this idea and claimed that it was purely due to the best-of-three set element.
“That’s not what we’re saying. I have to stop you right there,” said Mauresmo. “For me, the message that I always said, and I will repeat, is the conditions have not changed of having one unique match in the evening.
“The message has never been the girls are not worthy of playing at night. It’s never been this.”
All eight of the night session matches at the French Open this year have featured men, including the match on Sunday June 1 including Lorenzo Musetti and Holger Rune.
This has been chosen over a match between Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, as well as world number one Sabalenka against former French Open semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova.
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