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<\/p>\nAn attack by Paraguay\u2019s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo on a woman umpire was \u201cunacceptable\u201d and will result in a \u201csignificant sanction\u201d, French Open organisers said on Saturday (AEST). <\/p>\n
After he lost to French 17-year-old Moise Kouame in a fifth-set tiebreak on Friday, Vallejo told tennis website Clay that Brazilian umpire Ana Carvalho had not been strong enough in the face of fan support for the local player. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis sort of match needs to be umpired by a man. It\u2019s very difficult for a woman to do it,\u201d the 22-year-old said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has to be refereed by a man, because it\u2019s a very demanding crowd and you need a lot of strength to go against the crowd.\u201d <\/p>\n
The French Tennis Federation said in a statement that they and the Roland Garros tournament organisers \u201chave taken note of Adolfo Daniel Vallejo\u2019s comments\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe competence of an umpire is not determined by their gender, but by their professionalism and ability to officiate at the highest level,\u201d the statement continued. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe outcome of a sporting event, whether positive or negative, can never justify or excuse such remarks.\u201d <\/p>\n
They said they \u201cwill impose a significant sanction… in the form of a fine.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Roland Garros tournament strongly condemns all sexist remarks, regardless of who makes them, and offers its support to the match umpire and, more broadly, to all the tournament\u2019s umpiring officials.\u201d <\/p>\n
Vallejo said Carvalho had allowed Kouame too much recovery time. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think he took up a lot of time on many occasions, lying on the floor or stalling,\u201d said Vallejo. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s not normal for the crowd to be shouting for a full minute without any play. In a match where the physical aspect matters so much, if you give a player a lot of time, he\u2019s obviously going to take advantage of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vallejo published a statement on his Instagram stories on Saturday morning where he made an apology. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want to clarify that my comments were not meant in the way they have been understood,\u201d he posted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have respect for the umpire and the job they do. After a 5hrs battle I was very heated and with a lot of emotions, I apologise. <\/p>\n
\u201cI also want to clarify that I didn\u2019t blame the loss on her, she did a good job throughout the whole match. <\/p>\n
I will learn and get better with this.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also have great respect for Roland Garros, the French Tennis Federation and everyone involved in tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Storm erupts over ball girl incident<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s Rafael Jodar has denied suggestions he pushed a ball girl during his third round win over American Alex Michelsen. <\/p>\n
Jodar\u2019s epic five-set win has been soured by viral footage and suggestions he shoved a volunteer ball girl as he attempted to leave the court.<\/p>\n
One broadcast camera showed Jodar threw an object towards his players box before he headed for the exit, where the young girl was also moving across.<\/p>\n
However, the No. 27 seed says he did not touch the gall girl and said the camera footage is misleading. <\/p>\n
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The camera only captured a view from directly at Jodar\u2019s back. <\/p>\n
\u201cI finished the set and she was walking backwards,\u201d Jodar told reporters after the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was telling my dad to give me what he was going to give me after the toilet break. She was in the middle. I think she was trying to get out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the young girl slipped on a tarpaulin at the back of the court. There have been calls for the tarpaulins to also be removed from the court with several players also losing their feet. <\/p>\n
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