The scheduling of women's matches at top-level tennis events has been identified as a systemic issue by Portia Archer, the CEO of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). This revelation follows criticism of the French Open organizers for not featuring any women's matches in the prime-time night sessions on Court Philippe Chatrier this year.

Archer expressed her concerns during an interview with BBC Sport, stating, "I just think it's a missed opportunity. I think the fans expect, and increasingly we'll see that they demand, that they have the opportunity to see the best tennis matches - whether they are men or women - in prime-time slots."

Since the introduction of night sessions at the French Open in 2021, only four of these matches have been from the women's draw. This year, former WTA world number one and current Roland Garros tournament director Amelie Mauresmo defended the scheduling decisions, citing the shorter format of women's matches and the desire to avoid late finishes as justifications.

However, Archer believes the issue is broader and more foundational, affecting not just the Grand Slams but other tournaments as well. She emphasized the need for discussions with all relevant parties to effect change, stating, "It's not something that I assign to a specific individual, so we'll be working to discuss with all the relevant parties how we can effect change in this area."

Archer also highlighted the role of TV rights partners in this issue, suggesting they could advocate on behalf of fans to ensure a more balanced representation of men's and women's matches in prime-time slots.

As the WTA continues to push for equality in tennis scheduling, fans and players alike are encouraged to voice their opinions and demand fair representation. The conversation around this issue is expected to continue, with the hope of achieving meaningful change in the near future.