Peruvian qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo ignited a firestorm after insisting his French Open second‑round clash “needed to be umpired by a man” to handle the Roland Garros crowd. He faced 17‑year‑old French hopeful Moise Kouame, who survived a brutal five‑set battle, winning 6‑3 7‑5 3‑6 2‑6 7‑6 (10‑8). The win propelled Kouame into the third round, marking his deepest run at a major.

The match lasted four hours and 56 minutes, with Kouame drawing thunderous support on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The French supporters chanted incessantly, creating a pressure cooker environment. Vallejo complained that Brazilian umpire Ana Carvalho lacked the “strength” to curb the noisy spectators and accused Kouame of stalling, lying on the floor and exploiting the 25‑second rule. He argued the intense atmosphere demanded a male official.

Under ATP rules players may take up to 25 seconds between points, with officials allowed discretion when crowd noise interferes. Vallejo’s remarks have reignited debate over gender bias in officiating, prompting Sky Sports to seek comment from tournament organisers. Players and officials alike felt the tension. The incident underscores how crowd dynamics can shape on‑court narratives at Grand Slam events.