Victoria Azarenka takes aim at French Open over gender inequality, saying ‘we need to hold people accountable’

Victoria Azarenka has expressed her frustration at French tennis officials over gender inequality at the French Open, saying there are plenty of examples of men receiving preferential treatment.

The two-time Grand Slam winner’s remarks came on the back of six out of seven night matches at Court Philippe-Chatrier featuring men with Serena Williams’ encounter against Irina-Camelia Begu the only match women’s match to be played under floodlights so far.

Azarenka, who lost her fourth-round match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, criticised French Open officials as she believes it is not the first time that women have treated unfairly at Roland Garros.

“What concerns me is when somebody from the French Tennis Federation is continually trying to say there is equality, and only pointing out to prize money, which is true. Everything else, I wouldn’t even agree for a little with that. And that’s disappointing,” she said.

She added: “I think there are enough examples over the years where we have heard remarks towards women, where we have seen two women’s semi-final matches being played on the outside courts. If you follow tennis, you know what I’m talking about.

“I think there are no surprises that I can reveal here. But I think sometimes we need to hold some people accountable for some of those things and not continuously point out the obvious of prize money.”

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