Was Jannik Sinner Favored at Roland Garros?

Two female umpires came under scrutiny at Roland Garros on Thursday after controversial comments and on-court criticism following high-profile matches at the French Open. Paraguayan player Daniel Vallejo, after losing a five-set battle to French teenager Moise Kouame, said the match should have been officiated by a man because of the intensity of the crowd and the difficulty of controlling the atmosphere. Vallejo argued that the Brazilian umpire Ana Carvalho was not suited to handling such a demanding setting, saying the spectators were extremely vocal and that the player from France benefited from the energy and breaks provided by the home support.

Vallejo, who was ranked No. 71 and came close to victory after leading 5-2 in the final set, said he was prepared for the hostile environment but felt the crowd often crossed the line. He claimed Kouame used time between points in a way that made the contest more difficult to manage, suggesting that long delays and crowd interruptions affected the rhythm of play. Despite his frustration, Vallejo said the atmosphere did not hurt him as much as it helped his opponent, who advanced after a dramatic 10-8 tiebreak in the deciding set.

Separately, American pundit Jim Courier criticized French chair umpire Aurélie Tourte during Jannik Sinner’s second-round match against Argentine Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. Courier objected to Tourte stepping down from her chair to speak directly with Sinner at a crucial moment when the Italian was serving with a two-set lead and facing break point. The exchange came after Sinner appeared unwell and admitted he may have been dehydrated or dizzy. Tourte told him the medical process would depend on whether a physiotherapist was needed and whether a time violation would be called.

Courier said the umpire should have started the clock and that the intervention was unfair to Cerúndolo. Former player Mary Joe Fernández agreed with his assessment. Although the situation did not change the result, with Sinner eventually losing the match, the episode drew attention because chair umpires rarely leave their seats to explain procedural options to players during live play.

The controversy also recalled past debates at Roland Garros over umpiring and crowd control, including previous disciplinary incidents involving officials. The day’s events reignited discussion about the pressures on chair umpires in high-stakes tennis, especially in matches influenced by intense home crowds, physical exhaustion, and medical concerns.