'It sucks': Matildas star Katrina Gorry weighs in on Roland Garros scheduling debate
Matildas star Katrina Gorry admits it is "disappointing" conversations about women's sport are still being debated as the schedule at the Roland Garros is raises questions.
The women's draw at the Roland Garros this season does not include any evening matches, with the circuit's top players taking to the court in front of small crowds.
Women's world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is among many in the draw who have questioned the schedule and called for female players "to be put on a bigger stage."
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Just four women's matches have been held in the prime-time slot in the past since the night sessions were introduced to the tournament in 2021.
Across most major tournaments, men's matches have been scheduled to take place in the evening sessions.
Amelie Mauresmo, the chief tournament director at the Roland Garros, defended suggestions that a perception that women are "not worthy" of the slots could be made.
"That's not what we're saying. I have to stop you right there," she said.
"The message is not changing, and it has never been that the girls are not worthy to play at night. It's never been this. I will not accept that you carry this message.
"We have one single match per night session. It hasn't changed. Accordingly, we won't change everything again.
"The play time also is taken into consideration, potential play time, obviously because we can't plan ahead, be it for women's tennis or men's tennis.
"But we have to take it into consideration as to the 15,000 spectators coming in for the night session. Since men's tennis is played at the best-of-five sets, three sets will be played at a minimum. It's complicated for us to do otherwise."
Amelie Mauresmo, director of Roland Garro. DeFodi Images via Getty Images
The 2006 Wimbledon winner said no women's players had complained directly to her about the situation at the time of her press conference ahead of the third round fixtures.
Still, Gorry admitted "it sucks" knowing that the debate around the scheduling of women's sport is continuing to happen.
"It's just disappointing that we are still having these conversations," Gorry told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday.
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"In the last couple of years, I think women have proven that people want to watch their game, people are invested in women's sport, in female athletes. It's disappointing that these conversations are still happening, I hope something changes."
Gorry recognised that evidence about the interest in women's sport can be seen through the Matildas sensational World Cup campaign in 2023.
Katrina Gorry has weighed in on the women's scheduling at Roland Garros Getty
The team's semi final battle against England saw the Matildas break the record for the most-watched TV event in Australian history, with 11.15 million viewers tuning in.
"I think the World Cup showed that there are so many people out there that want to watch us play," Gorry continued.
"For the A-League to grow, that's what is going to need to happen. We need more investment, we need people watching the games and for the standards to be better.
"Hopefully things start to change, it's always a slow process. But I mean, surely now people can see that women's football is an attractive brand of football.
"Female athletes are incredible humans for what they go through. It sucks that we're still having these conversations."
