Add The New York Post on Google Corentin Moutet handled one of tennis’ biggest serves.
The Frenchman left the crowd laughing at Queen’s Club after swearing seven times in less than a minute during his on-court interview following a 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(5) win over fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
France’s Corentin Moutet. AFP via Getty Images Queen’s is one of tennis’ traditional grass-court stops in London before Wimbledon, which made the scene even more unexpected.
Moutet had just survived Mpetshi Perricard, one of the sport’s biggest servers, when BBC interviewer Jenny Drummond asked him about facing a 142 mph second serve on match point.
“That’s so frustrating, you know,” Moutet said. “When I had match point, I was on the second serve. OK, you aim in the middle, whatever you do, just put the ball in the court.
“And then he hits me 142 and I was like, ‘f–k.’”
Moutet appeared to realize what he had said as the crowd started laughing.
Moutet took the microphone back and immediately repeated the word several more times, prompting Drummond to pull the mic away as the crowd continued to laugh.
The interview briefly resumed, but Moutet again went back to the same expletive, and the segment was quickly cut short.
Moutet seemed to take the moment in stride afterward, commenting on the tournament’s Instagram post that he had been joking.
“I was just joking I hope you guys didn’t get offended,” Moutet wrote. “Thanks for the love.”
The ATP could still fine Moutet, as players can be punished for audible obscenities while on site.
Still, the moment added some unexpected comedy to what was otherwise an impressive grass-court win for the 27-year-old, who found a way past one of the biggest serves in tennis at one of the sport’s main Wimbledon warmup events.
Moutet is scheduled to face Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina next at Queen’s, with Wimbledon looming later this month.
