"Wish they'd try more": Ons Jabeur calls out European tournaments for not prioritizing women's matches as much as men's amid French Open schedule saga

Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur recently voiced her dissatisfaction over the scheduling at European tournaments as she claimed that ATP matches were being prioritized more than the WTA matches. Jabeur is currently participating in the 2024 French Open.

Jabeur reached the third round of the women's singles draw at Roland Garros after defeating Camila Osorio 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in the second round. The Tunisian defeated Sachia Vickery 6-3, 6-2 in her opener at the tournament.

While speaking to the media after her win over Osorio, Ons Jabeur called out the scheduling of women's matches at European tournaments as she suggested that the men's matches were being broadcast more. She said (via Yahoo Sport):

"I’m going to get in trouble again, aren’t I? Listen, I know they’re trying here. I wish they’d try more. It’s not something we’ll change in a day. I’m watching TV every day. A lot of men matches more than women, and is the truth. I mean, I’m not gonna lie about it."

The eighth seed then wished that the French Open, under director Amelie Mauresmo's supervision, would schedule more matches in the night sessions.

"I think Amelie is doing an amazing job and is trying to change that, but these things, they take time. I wish I can see the change more. Obviously I wish I can see more, like I wish I saw Osaka and Iga’s match today as a night session. But it’s a choice. I understand that. Maybe the prime time is now. I don’t know," Jabeur added.

Ons Jabeur further vowed to promote women's tennis to the best of her ability.

"Again, I will keep pushing for that, and I wish really to see promoting more women’s sport in general and women’s tennis in general," she said.

Notably, every night session in the first four days of the 2024 French Open has only featured duels between men.

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Ons Jabeur to play the winner of the rain-hit first-round match between Leylah Fernandez and Wang Xiyu next

Ons Jabeur in action at the 2024 French Open. GETTY

Ons Jabeur will face either Canada's Leylah Fernandez or China's Wang Xiyu in her second-round match on Friday, May 31.

Fernandez and Wang's first-round encounter on Wednesday at Roland Garros' Court 8 was suspended due to rain while the Canadian led 5-3. It has been rescheduled for Thursday.

Ons Jabeur has an upper hand over both Fernandez and Wang as she maintains leads over the two in the respective head-to-head tallies.

Jabeur has faced Leylah Fernandez thrice thus far and won every time. She most recently defeated Fernandez 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in the third round of the 2024 Madrid Open.

Jabeur played against Wang Xiyu at the Tianjin Open in 2019 and defeated her 6-4, 6-2 in their solitary duel so far.