“This type of match should be refereed by a man”: Adolfo Vallejo sparks controversy after Roland-Garros defeat

Adolfo Daniel Vallejo has sparked controversy after suggesting that his five-set defeat to Moïse Kouame at Roland-Garros was played under conditions that were difficult to officiate, adding that it would be “very difficult for a woman to referee this match.” The Paraguayan also criticised the intensity of the crowd and repeated interruptions during play.

The world No. 71 lost 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(8) after 4 hours and 56 minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. He had led 5-2 in the final set before Kouame completed a comeback in front of a heavily partisan home crowd.

The match marked Vallejo’s second-round exit after a breakthrough opening win over Cameron Norrie, and became one of the most volatile contests of the early rounds, defined by momentum swings, physical exhaustion and crowd influence.

Despite acknowledging his opponent’s level, Vallejo’s post-match remarks focused heavily on officiating conditions and what he described as an environment that was difficult to control.

The world No. 71 raised concerns about the ability of the chair umpire to manage the conditions during the match. The 22-year-old Paraguayan told CLAY that the atmosphere made officiating extremely challenging, particularly during extended interruptions and periods of sustained crowd noise.

“It has to be refereed by a man because it is a very heavy crowd, and you need a lot of strength to go against the crowd.”

He also criticised what he perceived as repeated delays and interruptions during rallies, arguing that the flow of the match was affected at key moments and that it disrupted competitive balance. “Many times a lot of time was taken, with players on the ground or wasting extra time. And it is also not normal for the crowd to be shouting for a full minute without play.”

The Paraguayan described the atmosphere on Suzanne-Lenglen as “very heavy,” acknowledging the intensity of French support for Kouame but arguing that it created an uneven competitive environment at key stages.

He had been in control of the match in the final set, leading 5-2 and serving for victory before losing momentum and eventually falling in a super tie-break after nearly five hours of play.

“The crowd was very out of place, but I understand they are supporting their compatriot. It is a very intense crowd,” he added. “I was already prepared, I already knew it was going to be like that, and the truth is it didn’t hurt me, it mostly strengthened him.”

The defeat ended Vallejo’s first main-draw appearance at Roland-Garros, where he had earlier recorded a notable win over Cameron Norrie after the Briton retired due to injury. That result had given him his first Grand Slam main-draw victory, but the second-round match exposed the physical and mental demands of extended five-set tennis under extreme conditions.

On the other side, Kouame—also making his main-draw debut at Roland-Garros—advanced to the third round. He is one of two French players remaining in the draw, alongside Quentin Halys. The 17-year-old will return to court on Saturday to face Alejandro Tabilo, who will arrive more rested after advancing via walkover following the withdrawal of Valentin Vacherot due to injury.