Roland-Garros: Adolfo Vallejo sparks furor with sexist claim that his match should have had a male umpire
After a dramatic five-set loss to 17-year-old Moïse Kouame at Roland-Garros, Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo ignited a firestorm by insisting that 'this sort of match needs to be umpired by a man.'
The match
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, the 22-year-old Paraguayan ranked 71st in the world, was eliminated by 17-year-old French wild-card entry Moïse Kouame in a five-set marathon on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The encounter lasted four hours and 56 minutes, with Kouame finally prevailing 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 after Vallejo let slip a 5-2 advantage in the fifth set. The French crowd roared its support for the home teenager throughout.
Vallejo’s attack on the umpire
In the aftermath, Vallejo singled out Brazilian chair umpire Ana Carvalho for what he perceived as her inability to manage the intense atmosphere.
These comments, published by Clay magazine, provoked immediate accusations of misogyny.This sort of match needs to be umpired by a man, it's very difficult for a woman to do it. It has to be refereed by a man, because it's a very demanding crowd and you need a lot of strength to go against the crowd.
Complaints about the crowd and opponent
Vallejo’s frustration extended to the behaviour of the partisan fans and what he described as time-wasting by Kouame. He claimed the crowd’s influence was decisive, stating:
Yet he also admitted that the atmosphere did not personally harm him and that he had been prepared for it. Regarding his opponent, he added:Did the crowd play a role? Yes. If we had played in another city, he would have lost 100%.
Vallejo suggested that such delays gave Kouame a physical advantage.I think he took up a lot of time on many occasions, lying on the floor or stalling. And it’s not normal for the crowd to be shouting for a full minute without any play.
Outcry and fallout
The sexist nature of Vallejo’s remarks drew swift condemnation on social media, with many pointing out that Carvalho is an experienced official. Tournament organisers at Roland-Garros were approached for comment. The incident has overshadowed what was otherwise one of the most gripping early-round matches of the tournament and adds a sour note to the fortnight in Paris.
