French Open Schedules First Women’s Night Match Since 2023

The 2026 French Open will witness a significant milestone for women’s tennis when world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka takes on four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the tournament’s prestigious night session on Monday at Roland-Garros. It will be the first women’s singles match featured in the prime-time slot since 2023.

Tournament organizers confirmed that the blockbuster fourth-round encounter on Court Philippe-Chatrier will headline the evening schedule, ending a run of 32 consecutive men’s matches in the French Open’s night-session showcase. The decision comes after years of criticism from players, fans and women’s tennis officials over the lack of female representation in the tournament’s marquee evening slot.

The clash brings together two of the sport’s biggest stars. Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and the top seed in Paris, advanced to the fourth round after defeating Daria Kasatkina in straight sets. Osaka, also a four-time major winner, reached the last 16 for the first time at Roland-Garros after battling past American teenager Iva Jovic in a three-set contest that lasted nearly three hours.

The match is widely regarded as one of the standout fixtures of the tournament so far, pitting the tour’s top-ranked player against a former world No. 1 who appears to be rediscovering her best form on clay. Osaka’s run in Paris has already attracted attention, both for her performances and her eye-catching on-court outfits, while Sabalenka continues her pursuit of a maiden French Open title.

The scheduling decision is also being viewed as a response to growing calls for greater visibility for women’s tennis. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and several leading players had previously questioned why women were rarely selected for the tournament’s prime-time showcase despite producing some of the sport’s most compelling matches.

With a place in the quarter-finals at stake and the spotlight of the night session shining on them, Sabalenka and Osaka are set to deliver one of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 French Open.