As the 2025 French Open unfolds on the red clay of Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek, the defending women’s champion and four-time winner, has found herself at the center of a scheduling controversy. Critics have pointed to the tournament’s night session lineup, which featured only men’s singles matches on Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first three days, sparking accusations that the French Open prioritizes male players. Swiatek, now ranked world No. 5, delivered a forthright response during her post-match press conference after a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Rebecca Sramkova on May 26. Unfazed by the debate, she stated, “I like playing during the day, so it’s comfortable for me that I can be scheduled that way,” dismissing concerns about the perceived disparity in exposure. Her comments, grounded in her preference for daytime matches, highlight a player focused on performance over politics, even as she navigates a challenging title defense.
The scheduling furor began with the tournament’s opening days. On May 25, Rafael Nadal’s emotional tribute preceded a men’s night match between Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Sonego. The following day, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner faced Arthur Rinderknech under the lights, while Swiatek’s first-round match against Sramkova kicked off the day session. The pattern continued, with no women’s matches slotted for the prestigious evening slot, prompting questions about whether men’s games were being given a “bigger stage” and “bigger audiences.” Swiatek, however, brushed off the criticism, drawing on her experience from the previous year when she expressed a similar preference for day sessions. “Probably there are many factors, a lot of requests,” she said, acknowledging the complexities of scheduling. “It’s obvious that a French player might have priority in terms of night sessions,” she added, referencing decisions like Richard Gasquet’s night match over her own clash with Naomi Osaka in 2024.
Swiatek’s 2025 campaign comes after a turbulent year. Once the dominant world No. 1 for 125 weeks, she has not reached a final since her 2024 French Open triumph, slipping to No. 5 after losses to players like Coco Gauff in Madrid and Danielle Collins in Rome. Her recent challenges extend beyond the court: a one-month doping ban in late 2024 for a contaminated melatonin supplement shook her mentally, and she has spoken candidly about the emotional toll. “My life went upside down in November,” she said earlier in Madrid, alluding to the stress of proving her innocence. Despite these setbacks, her first-round win showcased her clay-court prowess, with her aggressive topspin forehand and backhand down the line producing more winners than errors. Her next test is a blockbuster second-round match against Emma Raducanu, a rematch of their 2022 Stuttgart quarterfinal, where Swiatek leads 1-0.
The scheduling debate isn’t new for Swiatek. In 2022, she called out then-tournament director Amelie Mauresmo’s claim that men’s matches had more “appeal,” calling it “disappointing and surprising” from a former WTA player. This year, her pragmatic stance reflects her focus on controlling what she can—her game. “For sure it hasn’t been easy,” she admitted in Rome, discussing technical tweaks to her forehand and footwork that have led to uncharacteristic errors. Working with new coach Wim Fissette, previously with Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber, Swiatek is addressing these issues, aiming to reclaim her “Queen of Clay” dominance. Her draw is daunting, with potential clashes against Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals and Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, yet her 35-2 Roland Garros record suggests she thrives under pressure.
Swiatek’s response to the scheduling controversy underscores her resilience amid scrutiny. While fans and pundits debate the fairness of night sessions, she remains unfazed, embracing the day matches that suit her rhythm. Her focus on mental preparation, honed with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz since 2019, has been key to her five Grand Slam titles, including four at Roland Garros. As she prepares for Raducanu, Swiatek’s ability to tune out external noise—whether from crowds, critics, or scheduling disputes—positions her as a formidable contender to reclaim her crown and silence doubts about her form.
# Swiatek’s Response to French Open Scheduling Controversy 2025
Iga Swiatek, the defending French Open champion, addressed accusations that the tournament prioritizes men’s matches after the first three days of 2025 night sessions featured only men’s singles on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Following her 6-3, 6-3 win over Rebecca Sramkova on May 26, she said: “I like playing during the day, so it’s comfortable for me that I can be scheduled that way.”
## The Scheduling Debate
The controversy arose as men’s matches, like Ben Shelton vs. Lorenzo Sonego and Jannik Sinner vs. Arthur Rinderknech, took the night slots, while Swiatek’s match opened the day session. Critics questioned if men received a “bigger stage.” Swiatek noted: “Probably there are many factors, a lot of requests. It’s obvious that a French player might have priority in terms of night sessions.”
## Swiatek’s Challenging Year
After a one-month doping ban in 2024 for a contaminated supplement, Swiatek, now No. 5, reflected: “My life went upside down in November.” She has not reached a final since her 2024 Roland Garros title, with losses to Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins. In Rome, she admitted: “For sure it hasn’t been easy. I’m making decisions that are not really good at the moment because I just remember how it felt in previous tournaments.”
## On-Court Resilience
Swiatek’s first-round win showcased her clay-court dominance, with her topspin-heavy game producing more winners than errors. She faces Emma Raducanu next, with a tough draw potentially including Jasmine Paolini and Aryna Sabalenka. Her 35-2 Roland Garros record underlines her strength.
## A Focused Approach
Swiatek’s pragmatic response echoes her 2022 criticism of claims that men’s matches had more “appeal,” calling it “disappointing and surprising.” With new coach Wim Fissette, she’s refining her game, aiming to reclaim her “Queen of Clay” title amidst a challenging field and ongoing debates.
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