Adolfo Daniel Vallejo received a $65,000 fine at the French Open following his comments about the umpiring of his second-round match. Vallejo lost a five-set match to French teenager Moise Kouame and later criticized the gender of the umpire, Ana Carvalho from Brazil, stating that such a match needed to be officiated by a man.
The match concluded with Vallejo losing 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8) after nearly five hours. Vallejo expressed that it was challenging for a female umpire to handle the intense crowd, suggesting the need for strength to manage the spectators.
Roland Garros director Amelie Mauresmo addressed the media, confirming the 65,000 euro fine, which organizers later clarified was in dollars. “Once again, such remarks have no place here,” Mauresmo stated, emphasizing the inappropriateness of Vallejo’s comments.
Vallejo, from Paraguay, shared that the crowd’s behavior was supportive of their compatriot and intense. He noted, “The crowd was very out of line,” yet acknowledged that it ultimately strengthened his opponent rather than causing him harm. Despite the challenges, Vallejo claimed the situation did not affect his performance negatively.
Vallejo also accused Kouame of extending the match by lying on the floor and stalling. He highlighted the problem with crowd noise, remarking how disruptive it was when play halted for long periods. “The truth is it’s also difficult for a referee to manage this situation,” Vallejo admitted, recognizing the challenge faced by the umpire.
Players reaching the second round of the French Open earn 130,000 euros, equating to approximately $151,000, so the fine represents a substantial portion of Vallejo’s earnings at the tournament.
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