Teen tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva has weighed in on the growing French Open debate about scheduling disparities between men’s and women’s matches. While several top WTA stars, including Coco Gauff and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, have expressed concerns over the lack of prime-time slots for women’s matches, Andreeva’s response stands out — “It doesn’t really matter.”
The 17-year-old Russian, one of the rising stars of the women’s tour, made the statement during a press conference at Roland Garros. When asked how she felt about the ongoing criticism of night session scheduling favoring men’s matches, Andreeva’s reaction was calm but unexpected.
“For me, I just play when they tell me to,” Andreeva said. “Of course, it would be nice to play at night in front of a big crowd, but I don’t really think about it too much. It doesn’t really matter.”
Her comment comes amid mounting frustration from other leading women players. Swiatek has been vocal about the imbalance, noting that 10 of the 11 French Open night matches last year featured men. This year’s schedule appears to be following a similar trend, raising questions about equal representation and visibility.
Gauff, another young star who has already played multiple Grand Slam finals, echoed Swiatek’s views earlier in the tournament, saying, “We want equal exposure. We train just as hard and deserve to play on the big stage.”
Tennis fans and commentators have also highlighted the problem, especially on social media, where the hashtag #EqualScheduling has gained traction. Critics argue that the current scheduling system reinforces outdated perceptions about the women’s game and denies fans the chance to watch top-tier WTA clashes under the lights.
Andreeva’s perspective, while seemingly relaxed, has sparked further conversation. Some see her remarks as a sign of youth and inexperience, while others believe she is simply focused on performance over politics.
“She’s still new to this level,” one analyst said on Eurosport. “Give her a few more years and a few more Grand Slam appearances, and she might feel differently about being left out of those prime-time moments.”
Despite her nonchalant stance, Andreeva is making headlines both on and off the court. She’s been impressive during her Roland Garros campaign, knocking out higher-ranked opponents with maturity beyond her years.
Whether her comments will affect the wider conversation remains to be seen, but they offer a different angle to a hot-button issue. The broader push for equality in tennis scheduling continues, and with stars like Swiatek and Gauff refusing to stay silent, pressure on tournament organizers is unlikely to ease.
For now, though, Mirra Andreeva is letting her racquet do the talking — no matter the time of day.
