“I was wrong”: Adolfo Vallejo apologises after Roland Garros fine for 'sexist' comments

Adolfo Daniel Vallejo has emerged as a major disciplinary talking point at the 2026 Roland Garros after being fined for comments made following his five-set defeat in Paris. The Paraguayan lost a tightly contested second-round match against French wildcard Moïse Kouamel on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, falling 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8) after more than five hours of play in one of the tournament’s longest matches to that point.

The controversy did not stem from the match itself, but from Vallejo’s post-match comments about chair umpire Ana Carballo, whom he questioned in relation to her ability to manage the atmosphere created by the home crowd.

"This type of match has to be officiated by a man, because it is a very heavy crowd and you need a lot of strength to go against the crowd,” he said to Clay. “It is very difficult for a woman to do it."

The comments sparked controversy on social media, and tournament organisers later confirmed disciplinary action, stating that the remarks breached professional conduct standards, before Vallejo issued a public apology via social media in an attempt to contain the fallout.

The match against Kouamel was played in a highly charged environment, with the 17-year-old French wildcard heavily supported by the home crowd on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Vallejo initially controlled the opening stages but lost momentum as the match progressed, eventually being pushed into a deciding tiebreak after more than four hours of physical and emotional pressure.

The 22-year-old Paraguayan recovered from two sets down and came close to completing a dramatic comeback when he led 5-2 in the fifth set. However, he was unable to close out a tense match against his teenage opponent — one of the last remaining local players in the competition — and Vallejo also complained about the constant crowd interruptions.

In an interview with Clay, Vallejo made the controversial comments that sparked backlash in Paris. His remarks moved beyond match conditions into a direct reference to officiating capability in high-pressure environments, which later triggered sanctions from tournament authorities.

"The competence of an umpire is not determined by their gender, but by their professionalism and ability to officiate at the highest level," the French Open organisers wrote in a statement. "The outcome of a sporting event, whether positive or negative, can never justify or excuse such remarks. The tournament organisers 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 organisers of the 2026 Roland Garros confirmed this Friday that Vallejo would face a financial penalty following an assessment of his comments. While the exact amount was not disclosed, Grand Slam fines for code-of-conduct violations can reach up to US$100,000 depending on severity.

The decision reflected the tournament’s strict approach to conduct-related issues, particularly those involving comments directed at officials. Vallejo’s remarks were judged to have crossed the threshold of acceptable criticism by linking officiating performance to gender in a high-profile competitive setting.

Shortly after the sanction was announced, Vallejo issued a written apology seeking to clarify intent and reduce the escalation of the incident. "I want to clarify that my comments were not meant in the way they have been understood” he posted on social media.

“I have respect for the umpire and for the job they do. After a five-hour battle I was very heated and with a lot of emotions. I apologise. I also want to clarify that I didn't blame her for the defeat. She did a good job throughout the whole match."

He further stressed his respect for the tournament and governing bodies, adding that he would use the episode as a learning experience moving forward. "I will learn and get better from this. I also have great respect for Roland Garros, the French Tennis Federation, and everyone involved in tennis."