Leconte's Bold Proposal: 5-Set Matches to Solve Roland-Garros' Women's Night Session Issue

Roland-Garros 2025 Night Session Debate: Henri Leconte Proposes Five-Set Matches for Women Paris, France – The 2025 Roland-Garros tournament has sparked controversy due to the lack of women's matches scheduled for the prime-time evening sessions, also known as 'Night Sessions'. This has led to criticism regarding gender equality and the perceived undervaluing of women's tennis. Henri Leconte, a renowned French tennis consultant for RTL, has offered a potential solution to this issue. Leconte suggests that women's matches at Grand Slam tournaments should be played in a best-of-five-set format, similar to the men's matches. He argues that this would significantly increase the duration of the matches, making them more suitable for the evening slots. "In the past, women's finals at the Masters were played in five sets, and they were extraordinary," Leconte stated in a recent RTL video interview. He believes that longer matches would generate more excitement and attract a broader audience, thus addressing the current scheduling imbalance. The proposal has generated discussion among tennis fans and experts, raising questions about the fairness and feasibility of such a change. While some support the idea, others express concern about the potential physical strain on female players. The debate highlights the ongoing discussion about gender equality and the presentation of women's sports in the mainstream media. Amélie Mauresmo, the tournament director, is yet to respond to Leconte's suggestion, leaving the future of women's matches in the Roland-Garros Night Sessions uncertain.