The 2026 French Open so far has been overshadowed by multiple controversial incidents, involving players, umpires, fans, and the organizers themselves. As the tournament copes with players’ complaints about safety, the organizers have also been compelled to address a pressing issue about the “sexist remarks” made by Paraguayan tennis player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.
The French Open has issued a statement, confirming a hefty fine in the aftermath of Vallejo’s comments targeting Ana Carvalho, a silver badge chair umpire from Brazil.
The Incident and Adolfo Daniel Vallejo’s Comments at the French Open
Vallejo, ranked No. 71 in the world, made his French Open main-draw debut against an injured Cameron Norrie on Tuesday. He advanced to the second round with a 7-6(7), 2-0 (ret.) win, where he faced French rising star Moïse Kouamé. The 17-year-old local naturally received immense support from his home crowd on Court Suzanne-Lenglen throughout the contest and especially when he lost his two-set advantage.
The fans pushed Kouamé to a remarkable 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(8) victory, but his opponent was left with a sense of bitterness. During his post-match conversation with CLAY, Vallejo took his frustration out on chair umpire Carvalho, who officiated the tense match.
“These types of matches have to be officiated by a man; it’s very difficult for a woman to do it,” he said. “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 them.”
Vallejo took a few digs at Kouamé and the backing he received. “I think he took too much time many times, lying on the ground or wasting time. And it’s also not normal for the crowd to be shouting for a full minute without any play. In a game where the physical aspect is so important, if you give a player too much time, obviously he’s going to take advantage of it. The truth is, it’s also difficult for a referee to manage this situation.”
The French Open’s Statement
The French Open wasted no time in addressing the incident and called Vallejo’s comments “unacceptable” and “sexist.” In the statement, the tournament confirmed a “significant sanction” on the player.
“The French Tennis Federation and the Roland-Garros tournament organizers have taken note of Adolfo Daniel Vallejo’s comment about the umpire following his match on 28 May 2026 and deem these comments unacceptable.
The competence of an umpire is not determined by their gender but by their professionalism and ability to officiate at the highest level. The outcome of a sporting event, whether positive or negative, can never justify or excuse such remarks.
The tournament organizers will impose a significant sanction on Adolfo Vallejo in the form of a fine.
The Roland-Garros tournament strongly condemns all sexist remarks, regardless of who makes them, and offers its support to the match umpire and, more broadly, to all the tournament’s umpiring officials,” the note read.
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Adolfo Daniel Vallejo’s Response
After his controversial comments blew up, Vallejo issued a clarification, apologizing for the comments he made in the heat of the moment. He, however, insisted that his comments were taken out of context. The 22-year-old then acknowledged Carvalho’s efforts in officiating the match and conveyed his respect to the tournament’s organizers.
“I want to clarify that my comments were not meant in the way they have been understood. I have respect for the umpire and for the job they do, after a 5 hours battle I was very heated and with a lot of emotions, I apologize.
I also want to clarify that I didn’t blame the loss on her; she did a good job throughout the whole match. I will learn and get better with this.
I also have great respect for Roland-Garros, the French Tennis Federation, and everyone involved in tennis,” he wrote on Instagram.
Vallejo’s comments were heavily condemned by the tennis community, with many fans and experts offering a contrasting view of Ana Caravalho. The Brazilian umpire was praised for her professionalism in handling the boisterous crowd and her composure throughout the match.
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