Tennis Corridor of Famer and equal legal rights advocate Billie Jean King thinks the French Open up should really have scheduled much more women’s matches for the Grand Slam tournament’s large-consideration night time periods — both of those out of fairness and since that is the best way to bring far more consideration to the players.

King also stated at a news meeting on Saturday at Roland Garros that she thinks new event director Amelie Mauresmo will alter that for 2023.

Only 1 of the 10-night periods in the course of this year’s event showcased gals. When Mauresmo was requested about that on Wednesday, she explained it’s because men’s tennis has a lot more “attraction” at the instant and it was hard for her to obtain star gamers or higher-wattage matchups in the women’s draw to the highlight.

”It will remain that way if we don’t have a lot more matches, which is for confident,” King stated.

”You’ve obtained to place them when it can be prime time, and you have got to determine it out, and you want to give equivalent chance to equally genders. Generally. You generally want to make confident you do the right factor by each human being,” she claimed. ”They really should have the similar sum of women’s matches as they do men’s.” The 78-12 months-old American was elected to the Intercontinental Tennis Corridor of Fame in 1987 for a actively playing job that bundled time at No. 1 in the rankings and 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 in singles. She was inducted all over again last 12 months alongside with the other associates of the Authentic 9 who laid the groundwork for the women’s professional tennis tour in the 1970s.

”If we maintain managing ourselves like next-course citizens, we will continue to be 2nd-class citizens. You want to make absolutely everyone feels critical. We ought to have much more matches,” King explained, ”but I consider Amelie will consider care of that up coming yr.” On Friday, King acquired France’s best civilian honor, the Legion of Honor, throughout a ceremony at the presidential Elysee Palace at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. She was recognized for her contributions to women’s sports activities, gender equality, and the rights of LGBTQ people today.

All through a ceremony at Roland Garros in between the women’s semifinals on Thursday, King was honored by the French Tennis Federation for her taking part in occupation and her advocacy do the job. It is the 50th anniversary of her 1972 championship at the French Open up.
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