Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka are set to contest the Roland Garros night match on Monday evening.
Sabalenka and Osaka’s impending contest represents the first time a women’s match has been scheduled for the night session at Roland Garros for three years.
Sabalenka was also involved in the last women’s night match, beating Sloane Stephens at the 2023 French Open.
Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka have been confirmed as a night session match… is this the right call?
Could it hurt women's tennis if the match is not a thriller?
The one-match night sessions were introduced in 2021; and since then, only five women’s matches have been scheduled in the night slot.
Mirra Andreeva, the world number eight, has now stated whether she would like to play a night match at Roland Garros.
Mirra Andreeva says she is ‘not a huge fan’ of playing the night session
I have been playing a lot of night matches this year, I would say,” the 18-year-old Russian stated after her victory over Jill Teichmann in Paris. “In Australia and also last year in New York I was playing very late as well.
“I would not say I am a huge fan to play the last match of the night session. For me it depends what the organisers do.
“If they put me night match, okay fine, I will play a night match.
“If they put me first I am also going to be fine,” the Russian also stated. “For me it’s easier not to focus on that.
“Whatever they do, I will go with it. It’s going to help me not to overthink and think too much about it.”
Can anyone realistically stop Aryna Sabalenka from going ‘all the way’ at Roland Garros this year? 🏆
It is certainly surprising that only five women’s matches have been scheduled for the primetime night slot at Roland Garros since 2021.
In fact, it is slightly ludicrous.
With so few women’s matches having been scheduled for the slot over the past few years, there will be a level of unfair pressure on Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka to produce an entertaining product for the fans.
Simply put, that is not Sabalenka’s neither Osaka’s primary responsibility; their most important role in the sport is to win tennis matches.
Aryna Sabalenka’s projected path to the Roland Garros title
- Fourth round: Naomi Osaka
- Quarter-finals: Diana Shnaider / Madison Keys
- Semi-finals: Anastasia Potapova / Maja Chwalinska
- Final: Mirra Andreeva / Marta Kostyuk / Elina Svitolina / Sorana Cirstea
Mirra Andreeva’s path to Roland Garros glory
After beating Jill Teichmann on Sunday, Mirra Andreeva will play Sorana Cirstea in the Roland Garros quarter-finals.
Cirstea, who is enjoying the best year of her career on the WTA Tour, is set to retire at the end of this season.
Andreeva won her one previous match against Cirstea, defeating the Romanian 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 in the 2026 Linz Open.
If Andreeva advances past Cirstea, she will play Elina Svitolina or Marta Kostyuk.
Andreeva has a 1-1 record against Svitolina and a 0-2 record against Kostyuk.
If Andreeva reaches the final, she will likely play world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Andreeva has a 2-4 record against Sabalenka. However, the Russian did win their last contest in the final of the 2025 Indian Wells Open.
