Azarenka bows out of Paris with equality blast

Victoria Azarenka has criticised French Open organisers for a “lack of equality” saying the men received better treatment than the women at the tournament.

Azarenka, lost in the fourth round to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova yesterday, but didn’t waste time complaining about the scheduling of night matches – the first time Roland Garros has hosted evening sessions at its event.

“What concerns me is when somebody from French Federation is continually trying to say there is equality, and only pointing out to prize money, which is true,” Azarenka said.

Of the seven night matches so far, only Serena Williams has featured under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier, and all evening sessions have been played behind closed doors due to a Covid-19 curfew.

The French Tennis Federation has a three-year partnership with Amazon Prime Video that runs until 2023 – where the day’s top match is reserved for primetime audiences.

“It’s just honestly a bit frustrating every time you’re trying to deal with the organisation here, it’s becoming ‘pas possible’. Everything you hear is ‘pas possible’,” she said.

Tonight’s late match is between defending champion Iga Swiatek and Marta Kostyuk.

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

3 days ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

2 weeks ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

2 weeks ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

2 weeks ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

1 month ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

1 month ago