Vallejo Blames Female Umpire After Five-Hour French Open Defeat to Teenager Moïse Kouame

Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo lost to 17-year-old Frenchman Moïse Kouame in the French Open second round on Thursday. After a 4 hour 56 minute battle, Kouame won 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8) despite Vallejo leading 5-2 in the final set.

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Vallejo entered the main draw from qualifying. Kouame, a home favorite, played on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The match was officiated by experienced female umpire Ana Carvalho. Tournament officials were later approached for comment.

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• Duration: 4 hours 56 minutes.

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• Scoreline: 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8).

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• Age milestone: Kouame became the youngest man to reach a Grand Slam third round since Rafael Nadal in 2003.

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Vallejo said the crowd’s intensity required a male umpire, describing the situation as “very difficult for a woman to do” and insisting “you need a lot of strength to go against the crowd.” He linked the umpire’s perceived inability to control the audience with the match’s length.

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Tournament rules allow a 25-second interval between points, displayed on a scoreboard clock, while umpires may delay the countdown if crowd noise interferes. Organizers confirmed these rules but did not respond to Vallejo’s remarks when contacted.

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Kouame credited the French supporters for his comeback, noting he “gets the crowd going and makes a bit of a show on court.” He said the audience’s energy helped him maintain physical and mental stamina throughout the long contest.

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No statement from umpire Ana Carvalho addresses Vallejo’s criticism, and no independent timing data confirms whether point intervals exceeded the 25-second limit. Tournament officials declined further comment, leaving the umpire’s performance unverified.

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• “This sort of match needs to be umpired by a man. It's very difficult for a woman to do it,” — Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, Player

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• “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.” — Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, Player

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• “It's something I've always dreamed to do, get the crowd going and making a bit of a show on court," Kouame said.” — Moïse Kouame, Player

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• “The public gave me a lot of energy to keep going physically and mentally.” — Moïse Kouame, Player

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Vallejo’s comments revive debate over gender representation among tennis officials in major tournaments, while Kouame’s victory underscores the rising impact of teenage players on Grand Slam competition.

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