French Open 2023 - Aryna Sabalenka hopes fans will demand more women's night matches

Aryna Sabalenka hopes there is a demand for more women’s matches to be played in the evening sessions at the French Open after the second seed put on a show to beat Sloane Stephens.

The fans were treated to a spectacle on Philippe-Chatrier as Sabalenka won a topsy turvy match 7-6(5) 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals.

The lack of women’s night matches has created plenty of debate at this year’s Roland-Garros, with Eurosport’s Mats Wilanders describing the situation as “ridiculous”.

In an exclusive interview with Eurosport on Sunday, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo addressed the issue.

Sabalenka stresses that while there was no “extra pressure” to be involved in such a match, she admits that she was nervous about the turnout ahead of the showdown.

Speaking exclusively in the Eurosport’s Cube, the Australian Open winner said: “I just saw a couple of days that people didn't like that they put a woman's match at night, so I wasn't sure what's going to happen. I thought people will not come to watch us play.

“I was surprised there was a lot of people and they were going crazy. I think, and I hope, that they enjoyed our match and they will ask her for women’s matches at night.”

Sabalenka was relieved, too, to get the better of Stephens, who provided a stern test of her credentials.

After building a commanding 5-0 lead to start the match, Stephens made a remarkable comeback, pushing the first set into a tiebreak. Stephens led 4-2 but Sabalenka won five of the next six points to take the set.

“I am super happy with this win especially against such a tough opponent,” Sabalenka said.

“Yeah, the first set was a little bit crazy. I think it was a nightmare! I don't know, it was something unbelievable. I mean, she played unbelievable tennis, came back from that score.

“I don’t know, I think I just got a little bit lucky in the first set and it's gave me so much belief and so much power for the second set.”

Barbara Schett pointed out that Sabalenka’s use of the forearm was quicker than men’s No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz during his victory over Lorenzo Musetti.

“I think it's something about our day of birth, you know,” joked Sabalenka, referring to the fact that the stars share the birthday of May 5.

Eurosport’s Tim Henman was engrossed with the action and was delighted to see such a thrilling contest.

“Yeah, I think the quality was good,” he began.

“I just don't think to begin with each player played their best at the same time. So, you know Sabalenka came out, it was there for everyone to witness just her enormous firepower, and she was dominating and then you're thinking, ‘wow you know, this is just completely one-sided’.

“But Sloane Stevens showed a lot of mental fortitude, just to hang in there because she was just getting absolutely blown off the court, and she did well to, you know, stay in that first set.

“I think the only way to play her [Sabalenka] is to kind of fight fire with fire. I think Sloane was maybe a little bit passive, but I think Sabalenka deserves all the credit for those first five games, because she was just, you know, hitting winners everywhere.

“Then Sloane started to turn it around and, you know, perhaps Sabalenka got a little bit nervous but Sloane kept fighting. Once you get to 5-2, 5-3 then you know the pressure's on Sabalenka and she did unbelievably well to get back to 5-5.”

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