Tennis player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo faced criticism after expressing dissatisfaction with the umpiring during his French Open match against Moïse Kouame. Vallejo suggested that a male umpire should have officiated the match, claiming that women might struggle with demanding crowds.
During the second-round match, Vallejo fought back from a two-set deficit to force a final set. However, he lost a 5-3 lead in the decider, ultimately losing 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(8). The match took place on the Court Suzanne-Lenglen, known for its passionate support of French players.
“This sort of match needs to be umpired by a man, it’s very difficult for a woman to do it,” Vallejo remarked in an interview with Clay magazine. He criticized umpire Ana Carvalho for not controlling Kouame’s behavior on court.
Further, Vallejo pointed out his opponent’s alleged stalling tactics, stating that Kouame took too long “lying on the floor.”
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) and tournament organizers labeled Vallejo’s comments as “unacceptable.” They fined Vallejo and reiterated that an umpire’s competence is determined by professionalism, not gender.
“The Roland-Garros tournament strongly condemns all sexist remarks, regardless of who makes them, and offers support to the match umpire and, more broadly, to all the tournament’s umpiring officials,” said the FFT in a statement.
Vallejo participated in the French Open after previously reaching the round of 32 in the Madrid Open. He ranks 71st in the ATP singles standings.
The match was Kouame’s longest in senior tennis, lasting four hours and 56 minutes with a crowd of 10,000 spectators at the venue. Kouame is set to face Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, ranked 36th, in the next round of the tournament.
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