Fans accuse French Open of 'disrespectful' gesture to Carlos Alcaraz and Jelena Ostapenko with Monday scheduling

Carlos Alcaraz and Jelena Ostapenko's matches were not scheduled on Court Philippe Chatrier for the second day's play at the French Open on May 26. Tennis fans later condemned that decision by the organizers.

Ostapenko, who will face Polina Kudermetova in her first round clash in Court 13, had won the tournament in 2017. Alcaraz, meanwhile, won the title in 2024 and will face Giulio Zeppieri in Court Suzanne Lenglen. The Spaniard was initially set to face off against Kei Nishikori but his match was rescheduled as the Japanese had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.

Several fans felt the French Open's centre court scheduling didn't respect the players who had won the tournament earlier. As the order of matches was released for the second day, users took to X (formerly Twitter) to react to the scheduling.

"Ostapenko former champ in the smallest court is disrespectful," wrote a user.

"They're aware of that he's defending champion right aren't they?" wrote one in protest.

"How disrespectful to put the title defender on Lenglen, let me guess, no Chatrier until the final?," wrote a fan.

"N 2 and defending champion on the 2 court? on what principle do they put on the center court? a very strange decision by the organizers in RG and AO. at AO almost all matches were played on the 2 court, but some tennis players played on the center court with a half-empty stadium," a fan enquired.

"A tennis court is a tennis court. It is unseemly to whine about court assignment," a user tried to justify.

Carlos Alcaraz is a crowd favorite to win this year's title.

Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini and others pick Carlos Alcaraz as their favorite

Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 French Open - Image Source: Getty

Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Mirra Andreeva, Zheng Qinwen and Alexandra Eala all picked Carlos Alcaraz to win the men's singles title at the French Open. In a video released by the Tennis Channel on Sunday, the tennis stars were seen sharing their opinions.

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The Spaniard has put up a notable show in the ongoing clay stint as well. Having clinched the title in Rome against the World No. 1, Jannik Sinner, he has established himself as a top contender for the French Open title.

About the author

Aatreyi Sarkar is a tennis journalist at Sportskeeda. Currently pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University and a U.S. State Department scholar at The University of Kansas, she blends her academic background with her passion for storytelling.

Aatreyi sources accurate information from social media platforms to stay updated on the latest developments and fan discussions. She strives to produce engaging, insightful, and experimental content that connects with readers, aspiring to make tennis more accessible and captivating for fans around the globe

She finds immense inspiration in Novak Djokovic, whose incredible comebacks and relentless determination motivate her to approach her work with the same passion. Roland Garros is her favorite tournament, cherished for its unique clay-court challenges and historical importance.

Though new to professional writing, Aatreyi has been an avid debater and quizzer since middle school, showcasing her analytical skills and creativity. Outside tennis, she is a passionate cricket fan, baker, and reader who enjoys exploring literature beyond academic constraints.

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Edited by Pritha Ghosh