Controversial Comments from French Open Player
A French Open player has caused a stir after making remarks suggesting that his match should not have been officiated by a woman. Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, representing Paraguay, was competing against 17-year-old French teenager Moise Kouame in the second round of the tournament. The match, which took place on Thursday, became one of the most talked-about games of the event.
Kouame, playing on Court Suzanne Lenglen, received strong support from the local fans and eventually secured a hard-fought victory with a score of 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8). The match lasted an impressive four hours and 56 minutes, showcasing the intense nature of the competition.
Vallejo expressed his dissatisfaction with the time allowed to Kouame between points and criticized Brazilian official Ana Carvalho, an experienced umpire, for not being able to manage the crowd effectively. In an interview with Clay magazine, Vallejo stated:
“This sort of match needs to be umpired by a man, it’s very difficult for a woman to do it.”
He further explained:
“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.”
According to the rules, players are allowed 25 seconds between points, with a clock counting down on the scoreboard. However, umpires have the discretion to start the countdown if there is significant noise from the crowd. Vallejo acknowledged the intensity of the crowd but also noted that he understood their support for Kouame.
“The crowd was very out of line, but I understand they are supporting their compatriot,” he said.
“It’s quite an intense crowd and that’s why I was prepared. I already knew it would be like that and, to be honest, it didn’t harm me, but rather strengthened him.”
Vallejo claimed that Kouame frequently took extra time, such as lying on the floor or stalling, which he found unfair. He pointed out that the crowd often shouted for a full minute without any play, which he believed gave Kouame an advantage.
“In a match where the physical aspect matters so much, if you give a player a lot of time, he’s obviously going to take advantage of it.”
Tournament organizers were contacted for comment, though no official response has been released yet. Vallejo may now face a fine of up to $100,000 (£74,555) for unsportsmanlike conduct, according to the Grand Slam handbook.
