Vallejo: "The French audience had 90% responsibility for my defeat"

Adolfo Daniel Vallejo left Roland Garros 2026 after a epic battle of over five hours against the young French phenomenon Moise Kouame. He held a press conference marked by his criticism of the atmosphere on the court, particularly his frustration with the chair umpire's management during the match.

The Paraguayan repeatedly stated that the audience played a decisive role in Kouame's comeback and lamented that the officiating failed to control an atmosphere he described as completely out of control towards the end of the match. Adolfo Daniel Vallejo leaves Roland Garros 2026 with great frustration.

This is what Vallejo said after losing to Kouame at Roland Garros 2026

The pivotal role of the audience for Kouame

"It was a very tough battle. Congratulations to him because he kept fighting until the end and deserved the victory. He had an incredible crowd behind him, and I honestly believe that was the key for him to stay alive in the match. When he was 5-2 up in the fifth set, I honestly believe he was quite down already."

"But the audience started going completely crazy, and every point seemed like a Davis Cup tie. Thanks to that, he rose again and started playing incredibly."

His strong statement on the crowd's influence

"Yes, the audience influenced a hundred percent. If this match had been played in another city, he would have lost for sure. He was 6-3, 6-2, 5-2 up, and physically, I felt very good to close the match."

"I had never experienced an atmosphere like that in my whole life. The crowd was cheering loudly on every point, and you also have to respond emotionally to that. And honestly, he did it very well."

His harsh criticism of the chair umpire

"The audience probably had a 90% influence on the defeat. The match was completely under my control. It was very difficult to play in that atmosphere. That was truly the difference."

"I understand perfectly that the French audience wants to support their players, but I honestly believe the referee failed to control the situation or assert enough authority. The situation got a bit out of hand, and the referee did nothing to change it. It's a shame that in a Grand Slam, the audience can have such a significant influence in this way."

What impressed him most about Kouame

"For a 17-year-old, he's a very complete player. He doesn't have big weaknesses in his game. He has all the shots. He served very well in crucial moments. For example, in the super tie-break at 7-7, he aced me wide and then hit another great kick serve. From 5-2 in the fifth set, also thanks to the crowd, he started playing at a very high level and making winners from all over."

The mental strength he saw in the young Frenchman

"Honestly, I was surprised. It's not normal for a 17-year-old, being two sets down, after I leveled the match and went 5-2 up in the fifth, to come back and end up winning."

"Even in the super tie-break, when he seemed lost again, he reacted. He showed a lot of mental strength, without a doubt."

The great disappointment of not closing the match

"It's a shame how the second set slipped away because I believe if I had won it, the match could have been completely different. I battled from start to finish. Despite not feeling particularly comfortable at some points, I fought always and gave myself real chances to win. The only thing I lacked was closing the match at 5-3."

The positive he takes from this experience

"It was my first experience playing five sets for over five hours. You always have doubts about whether you can physically and mentally endure such a situation. And today, I proved to myself that I can. Next time, I will believe much more in my ability to withstand these kinds of matches."

Despite the immense frustration of a defeat he came very close to avoiding, Adolfo Daniel Vallejo left Roland Garros 2026 leaving an impression of immense competitiveness and mental resilience. Above all, the Paraguayan made the behavior of the crowd and the lack of officiating control one of the major talking points of the Parisian tournament.