French Open player punished after making rude comment to woman umpire
French Open player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo has been fined after making sexist remarks about a female umpire following his tough loss in the second round.
The 22-year-old from Paraguay lost a close five-set match to French player Moise Kouame. After the match, Vallejo criticized Brazilian umpire Ana Carvalho, saying she didn’t have the authority to manage the loud home crowd supporting Kouame.
During the match, Vallejo seemed frustrated with how long his 17-year-old opponent took between points, especially in the hot Paris weather. He also said the crowd was “annoying” and “disrespectful,” and said the umpire couldn’t control them.
In an interview, Vallejo said, “This kind of match should be umpired by a man; it’s hard for a woman to handle it. The crowd is tough, and you need strength to stand against them.” He added that while the crowd was out of line, he understood they were cheering for their home player.
Many fans and players were upset by his comments and called for a penalty. On May 29, the French Tennis Federation and Roland-Garros organizers said his words were “unacceptable.” They emphasized that an umpire’s skill isn’t about gender but their professionalism. They announced Vallejo would face a large fine. The tournament also stood behind the umpire and all officials, strongly condemning sexism.
Vallejo responded on social media, saying he wasn’t speaking about women in general, only about the umpire in this match. He also said he didn’t blame her for losing and congratulated his opponent, noting the crowd cheering the home player was normal.
On June 1, Vallejo was fined $65,000 (£48,300), about half of his prize money for reaching the second round, which is $151,000 (£112,000). Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo said the remarks were unacceptable and should never be used.
Vallejo later apologized publicly, saying, “I respect the umpires and their work. After a five-hour match, I was emotional and upset. I’m sorry.”