ByPaul Battison

BBC Sport Journalist

Aryna Sabalenka's fourth-round match against Naomi Osaka on Monday will be the first women's match to take place in the French Open's night-time slot since 2023.

Each of the previous 32 primetime sessions - scheduled to showcase the sport to the largest possible audience in France, Europe and the US - had been allocated to men's matches.

Since the one-match evening sessions were introduced in 2021, only four of the first 60 slots on Court Philippe Chatrier had contained a women's match. Sabalenka v Osaka will be the fifth.

Belarusian top seed Sabalenka is chasing her first title at Roland Garros as she looks to add to her tally of four Grand Slam titles, while Japanese 16th seed Osaka is also a four-time major winner.

On Saturday, Osaka said she did not "even associate" the French Open with night matches when she was asked about the topic.

The 28-year-old added she did not know if her match would be under consideration for the night session, but added she was "pretty easy going" about the time of the day she plays and felt the evening slot was reserved for "popcorn matches".

Last year, American world number five Jessica Pegula said she felt like she was "hitting her head against the wall" over the subject, while two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur questioned whether the people making the decision "have daughters".

Since 2023, questions have been raised about whether the French Open should do more to showcase the women's game.

The lack of action prompted recently appointed WTA chief executive Valerie Camillo to seek answers from French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo - a former women's world number one - when they met at Roland Garros this week.

In what the WTA describes as an open and productive conversation, Camillo underlined her belief that women's players have delivered some of the "most exciting and dynamic competition in global sport" over recent months and years.

Mauresmo has consistently argued that the danger of women's matches going "really fast" is the justification behind the choices.

Tickets for night session matches during the 2026 tournament range from €60 to €280 (£50 to £240).

Mauresmo has insisted the night sessions will not be extended to two matches - like the Australian Open and US Open - in fear of creating late finishes.

Analysis: Why blockbuster had to be picked for night session

By

BBC Sport tennis news reporter at Roland Garros

The French Open simply could not overlook Sabalenka v Osaka for the night-time session.

The reigning world number one taking on a former world number one. A four-time Grand Slam champion pitted against another four-time Grand Slam champion. A fashion-conscious superstar trying to transcend the sport like Osaka already does.

Osaka feels the Chatrier slot needs to be filled by a "popcorn" match - this blockbuster obviously fits the bill.

If Sabalenka against Osaka did not take place under the lights, then which women's match would conceivably ever be picked?

With that, though, now comes a sense of expectation.

If the last-16 match ends up being a short two-set match, for example, then it may be used by some as a stick to beat the women's game with.

There is an inescapable feeling that such a scenario - if it does happen - will only have been exacerbated by the French Open's reluctance to showcase its female stars in the night-time slot.

By

Tennis correspondent at Roland Garros

Monday's match between Sabalenka and Osaka is by far the best of the day, but you do wonder how the schedule might have looked had Jannik Sinner still been in the draw.

The status of the night match as the best match has become more questionable this year, with French players appearing frequently and the popcorn match between Novak Djokovic and Joao Fonseca scheduled during the day on Friday.

With the day session available on free-to-air television in France, Amelie Mauresmo has previously argued the last match of the afternoon session is just as high-profile.

But over the first eight days, while men have occupied every single night match, they have also been offered half of the teatime slots.