The larger problem gave the impression to be why there have been so many empty seats on Court docket Philippe Chatrier for a high-quality and absorbing contest between two of the WTA Tour’s brightest stars.
Beginning third within the day session on the principle show-court, the match began at 17:37 native time [16:37 BST] and completed at 20:34.
You can solely surprise the place else the Parisian ticket-holders had headed.
“Osaka vs Swiatek is a superb watch. WTA have to do extra to capitalise on these match ups!” Andy Murray, the British former world primary, mentioned on X, external.
The swathes of seats have been definitely not a great look.
Had the match been placed on within the evening session, Swiatek and Osaka would possible have been loved by a a lot fuller crowd.
It led to extra questions concerning the French Open’s scheduling coverage, which has been criticised in recent times.
As an alternative of Swiatek versus Osaka, Wednesday evening’s prime-time slot noticed males’s second seed Jannik Sinner beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet in straight units.
All 4 evening periods to date on the 2024 match have been males’s singles matches and a fifth – between dwelling favorite Gael Monfils and Italy’s thirtieth seed Lorenzo Sonego – is scheduled on Thursday.
Solely two girls’s singles matches featured in a complete of 20 evening periods throughout 2022 and 2023.
Event director Amelie Mauresmo – a former WTA world primary – was criticised two years in the past for suggesting the men’s matches were more appealing.
Three-time main finalist Ons Jabeur thought Swiatek versus Osaka ought to have had a night-session match, though Swiatek later diplomatically mentioned she most popular enjoying within the day.
Jabeur known as on the French Open to advertise the ladies’s recreation extra and hopes Mauresmo can oversee significant change.
“I will get in hassle once more, aren’t I? Hear, I do know they’re making an attempt right here – I want they’d attempt extra,” mentioned the Tunisian world quantity 9.
“It isn’t one thing we’ll change in a day. I am watching TV every single day. Numerous males’s matches, greater than girls, and it’s the reality.”