French Open 2026: Vallejo Criticises Umpire, Tournament Responds

Vallejo says remarks were ‘misinterpreted’ following French Open Loss

Vallejo was fined by French Open organisers after criticising umpire Ana Carvalho. He later said his comments were misinterpreted and apologised on social media.

Adolfo Vallejo apologised on social media after his French Open comments about umpire Ana Carvalho sparked backlash. The tournament condemned sexist remarks.

Vallejo apologises for sexist remark directed at female umpire after second-round loss

Paraguayan tennis player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo has apologised for comments he made about the female umpire who oversaw his second-round exit at the French Open.

Following his fifth-set tiebreak loss to 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame on Thursday, Vallejo told tennis site Clay that Brazilian umpire Ana Carvalho hadn’t controlled the crowd strongly enough while fans backed the home player.

“This sort of match needs to be umpired by a man. It's very difficult for a woman to do it,” the 22-year-old 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 the crowd.”

Vallejo issued an apology on social media.

“I have respect for the umpire and for the job they do, after a 5 hrs battle I was very heated and with a lot of emotions, I apologize,” Vallejo wrote on Instagram late on Friday.

In the post, Vallejo also claimed his words were taken out of context.

“I also want to clarify that I didn't blame the lost on her, she did a good job throughout the whole match,”  which he lost in a super tie-break after 4 hours and 56 minutes of play.

“I will learn and get better with this,” Vallejo added.

Earlier Friday, Roland Garros organisers said Vallejo would be fined for his remarks. They added the 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.”

#RolandGarros will fine Dani Vallejo about his comments about the Brazilian umpire yesterday.

He tried to explain himself on social media earlier today, but it looks like they didn't buy it... pic.twitter.com/42zEnicRew

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 29, 2026