French Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka calls for more women to be on bigger stage - 'We deserve equal treatment'
ByOli Gent
Published 03/06/2025 at 15:14 GMT+1
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka moved into the semi-finals of the French Open with a straight-sets victory over Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. The Belarusian set up a meeting with old rival Iga Swiatek, the four-time winner at Roland-Garros, with a 13th career meeting slated for Thursday. Sabalenka is aiming for a maiden title on the Parisian dirt, while Swiatek wants her fifth.
Highlights: Sabalenka shows class in beating Zheng to reach semi-finals
Video credit: TNT Sports
Aryna Sabalenka has called for female players to be "put on the bigger stage" more often at Grand Slam tournaments.
The world No. 1, who reached the semi-finals of the French Open with a straight-sets victory over Zheng Qinwen at Roland-Garros, is chasing a first-ever title in Paris.
Sabalenka, the three-time major champion, teed up a semi-final encounter with the ‘Queen of Clay’ Iga Swiatek, who beat Elina Svitolina in the second match on Court Philippe-Chatrier as the Pole, seeded fifth this year, looks to add a fifth French Open crown to her collection.
In her post-match press conference afterwards, Sabalenka was asked about the numbers in the stands on Court Philippe-Chatrier, with plenty of empty seats on display as she took on the Olympic champion.
In response, the Belarusian said that the female players "deserve equal treatment" and greater exposure to more spectators.
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"I definitely think it would make more sense to move our match a little bit later," she said.
"I definitely have to say that we deserve equal treatment. There were a lot of great battles, a lot of great matches, which would be cool to see as the night session with more people in the stands watching these incredible battles.
"And just to show ourselves to more people. I definitely agree that we deserve to be put on a bigger stage, with better timing and more people watching."
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What Swiatek needs to do to 'silence the doubters' with French Open glory
Video credit: TNT Sports
The former Australian Open and US Open champion did emphasise, however, that she was grateful for the extra half-day off, especially with such a huge semi-final to come on Thursday.
"I didn't really look in the crowd, but it felt like it was a lot of people," Sabalenka said.
"It was a big match and probably would make more sense to put us a little bit later, just so more people could watch it.
"But at the same time, I'm happy to finish earlier as then I have a half day off and I can just enjoy the city and do all the things that I have to do."
Now, Sabalenka will face Swiatek in the pair’s 13th encounter.
The world No. 1 is down in the head-to-head, with the Pole ahead 8-4.
In their most recent meeting, Sabalenka defeated Swiatek in straight sets in the semi-finals of Cincinnati, ending a three-match losing streak.
Asked about her relationship with Swiatek, Sabalenka said it had grown from "no communication" to the Pole joining her in a TikTok video.
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'That was a true battle' says Sabalenka after 'tough' quarter-final win over Zheng
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Before, there was no training, no communication, but now it's improved," she said.
"We get along better. We train together more often. We know each other quite well. We've had some big battles in the past. I'm really looking forward to it because it will be a great match.
"I think everything [in our relationship] started when I just came to her and asked to do [a] TikTok in that [WTA] Finals in Riyadh. We just did a little dance together.
"After that, we were like, ‘OK, maybe we can communicate, we can be good to each other, we can practice sometimes.’
"That was the first step to a better relationship. I think since then, we are better with each other."
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