In France, during the 2026 French Open, Paraguayan tennis player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo faced elimination in the second round after a match against French player Moise Kouame. The match, which lasted nearly five hours, ended with Kouame winning in a tightly contested fifth set. Following his defeat, Vallejo made controversial remarks regarding the officiating of the match, specifically criticizing the female umpire Ana Carvalho. He suggested that a man should have officiated due to the demanding nature of the crowd, which he claimed required a stronger presence to manage. This statement sparked immediate backlash from the French Tennis Federation and Roland Garros organizers, who condemned his comments as sexist and inappropriate. They emphasized that the competence of an umpire is based on professionalism, not gender. As a result of his remarks, Vallejo was fined 65,000 euros, which represented about half of his prize money from the tournament. The organizers reiterated their commitment to supporting all officials and maintaining a respectful environment in the sport. Vallejo defended his comments, stating that he was not disrespecting women in general but was specifically referring to the referee's ability to handle the crowd. However, the tournament officials maintained that such remarks could not be justified under any circumstances, highlighting the importance of gender equality in sports officiating.