French tennis player Corentin Moutet, one of the ATP Tour’s most controversial figures, says he will appeal a $40,000 fine imposed by the ATP for “unsportsmanlike conduct.” The punishment came after a bizarre post-match television interview at the Queens Club tournament in London, following his win over fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
During the interview, Moutet was asked about dealing with his opponent’s powerful serves. While describing a point in which he had to return a second serve that reached 142 mph, he swore once. Interviewer Jenny Drummond immediately asked him, “No F-bombs please,” but instead of stopping, Moutet answered with three more expletives in a row. When the interview resumed and he was asked again to keep his language clean, he repeated the same word several more times. The clip quickly went viral and drew wide attention across the tennis world.
The ATP said Moutet will be allowed to challenge the sanction before the tour’s disciplinary committee, and no further details will be released until that process ends. In the meantime, many in tennis questioned what the appeal could possibly be based on, since the exchange was broadcast live. Content creator Bastien Fachan wrote, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” while journalist Jose Morgado noted that the fine was nearly equal to Moutet’s prize money from the tournament, saying he had “essentially paid to reach the second round.”
The episode added to a growing list of disciplinary issues for Moutet. Last month he received a warning in Hamburg after dropping his shorts during a match, and earlier this week in Queens he also threw his racket on the grass, swore at his team, and hit a ball out of the venue. The disciplinary committee will now decide whether to reduce the penalty or leave the full fine in place.
