French Open to fine Vallejo for saying woman should not have umpired match

May 29, 2026

The French Open has announced it will impose a substantial penalty on Paraguayan tennis player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo following his sexist remarks about a female umpire. The 22-year-old, currently ranked 71st in the world, stated that his second-round match at Roland Garros should not have been officiated by Brazil’s Ana Carvalho, claiming women lack the “courage” to manage the audience.

Vallejo expressed dissatisfaction with umpire Carvalho’s ability to control what he described as a “disruptive” and “disrespectful” crowd during his match on Thursday. The Paraguayan player was ultimately defeated by 17-year-old French teenager Mo Kouame on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The French Open organizers have issued a strong condemnation of all sexist comments and confirmed they will take action against Vallejo for his “unacceptable” remarks.

Under Grand Slam regulations, Vallejo faces the possibility of a fine reaching up to $74,000 for unsportsmanlike behavior. The tournament has made clear its stance against discrimination, emphasizing that such comments violate the standards expected of players at major tennis events. BBC