Will Sabalenka and Osaka open door for women's night sessions?

For the first time since 2023, the French Open chose a women's match for their primetime night-session spot on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Roland Garros organisers - after three years of reluctance and excuses - simply had to choose Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka's fourth-round victory over Japan's Naomi Osaka.

Under the lights on Monday, Sabalenka and Osaka produced a high-quality contest which underlined the WTA Tour's strength and star power.

Sabalenka eventually took control to win 7-5 6-3 in one hour and 27 minutes, perhaps leaving some spectators wanting more.

"I hope this is the beginning and we open the door to [more] women's night sessions," said 28-year-old Sabalenka.

Osaka, also 28, added: "I'm honoured the tournament chose us to play in this slot and I hope going forward they continue to do so."

Few of the near-15,000 fans inside Chatrier - which was very close to capacity - seemed upset they had not received value for money.

As well as the high level of play, many lapped up the entertainment provided by two players who undoubtedly bring the X-factor.

Osaka, seeded 16th, walking out in another haute couture outfit - a sparkly Eiffel Tower-inspired dress which would not look out of place in Paris Fashion Week - and a dancing Sabalenka performing the moonwalk during her on-court victory speech were both well-received.

"I think the atmosphere and attention this match brought is going to show [organisers] that they should consider putting at least some women's matches at night," said Sabalenka.

Both players showcased their preference for first-strike tennis, knocking lumps out of the ball from the baseline, in a high-level contest played at breakneck speed.

Sabalenka's ability to generate more power, and the greater variety which she has developed, proved the difference.

For an absorbing set and a half there was very little between the pair, until Osaka ran out of gas and Sabalenka was able to sweep to victory.

"For me I thought it was really cool - she's really good for tennis and I hope I'm OK for tennis too. It was really fun to play," said Osaka.

Each of the previous 32 primetime sessions - scheduled to showcase the sport to the largest possible audience in France, Europe and the US - had been allocated to men's matches.

Sabalenka taking on Osaka was only the fifth women's match in 61 night-time sessions since they were introduced in 2021.

Beforehand, Osaka said she felt the slot needs to be filled by a "popcorn" match - and this blockbuster certainly fit the bill.

The reigning world number one taking on a former world number one.

A four-time Grand Slam champion pitted against another four-time Grand Slam champion.

A fashion-conscious superstar who is trying to transcend the sport like Osaka already does.

How could French Open organisers have justified overlooking it?

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo, herself a former women's world number one, had regularly pointed to the possibility of short two-set matches as the reason for often overlooking the women.

"The match-ups are always interesting for both men and women, but there are multiple factors for us to make the choice," Mauresmo said earlier on Monday.

"As you know, the potential length of the matches is something that we are also looking at."

On picking Sabalenka against Osaka, she added: "It was obvious that it should be a night match tonight."

There was a school of thought that Mauresmo might have looked elsewhere, though, had men's world number one Jannik Sinner still been in the tournament.

Sinner would have been scheduled to play on the same day, but without him the men's matches taking place on Monday lacked star power.

If Sabalenka against Osaka did not take place under the lights, then which women's match would conceivably ever be picked?

With that came a sense of expectation.

If the match ended up being a dud, then it could have been used by critics as a stick to beat the women's game with.

That, others argue, was a situation created by the French Open's reluctance to showcase its female stars in the first place.

Was the burden which it placed on Sabalenka and Osaka to represent the women's game fair?

"I don't really care. There are so many different things to put pressure on myself - that was the last thing on my mind," said Osaka.

"Shout out to the tournament for trusting us - I hope it was entertaining for people."