Tennis players losing their cool on the court is not a very unfamiliar scene. Think back to legends like John McEnroe – the Superbrat –  who was infamous for his fiery outbursts against umpires, or even Roger Federer, who was once a feisty junior before transforming into a true gentleman of the sport. Now, the Frenchman Corentin Moutet seems to be carving out a bit of a reputation as a controversial figure. But what has he done now?

Moutet’s latest drama unfolded during his match against Alejandro Tabilo at the Miami Open on March 23. He dominated the first set and was a break up in the second, but things took a turn when the crowd, largely backing Tabilo, started to get under his skin. The Chilean crowd in Miami had a history with the Frenchman, having clashed with him before during his victories over other Chilean players. As Tabilo’s support grew, Moutet lost his composure, leading to heated exchanges with the audience.

Later, the 25-year-old took to Instagram to address the situation, stating, “From the very first point, the crowd was hostile: deliberate noise between my serves, whistles, insults, and provocative gestures. Those who watched the match can testify that I did not respond for 1.5 hours, simply playing and focusing on the score.”

He further added, “After two hours of play, without any intervention from the umpire to calm the crowd, I reacted by raising my arms three times to encourage the public to make even more noise. At that moment, someone gave me the finger.”

Tensions escalated in the second set as Moutet engaged with the crowd again, many of whom were fervent supporters of Tabilo. When Tabilo edged closer to a set point, a particularly vocal spectator made an obscene gesture towards Moutet, drawing his ire. Moutet protested to the chair umpire, insisting he wouldn’t resume play until the spectator was ejected.

The umpire, however, refused to intervene and instead penalized Moutet a point, handing Tabilo the second set 6-3.  Moutet recounted, “When the supervisor arrived, I explained the situation. He left and then returned, telling me that someone (whose identity he refused to reveal) claimed that it was I who had made the obscene gesture.”

Despite the drama, Moutet showed resilience. After facing two match points at 5-4 in the last set, he managed to level the score at 5-5. However, Tabilo countered every comeback, breaking Moutet decisively before serving out the game with a final score of 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. Greg Butyn, a data analyst for Dimers, noted that Moutet entered the match with a 57% chance of winning, but the tide dramatically shifted in Tabilo’s favor.

Moutet emphasized, “I never insulted or disrespected anyone during this match,” clarifying that he hadn’t intentionally made any inappropriate gestures. He hopes the ATP will better protect players in the future, reducing situations like this and the hefty fines that come with them. “That we have fewer five-figure fines and more security, whether on the tennis court or on social media,” he further remarked.

Concluding his statement, Moutet noted, “I simply needed to tell you the truth.” Now, as he moves on from this event, it’s hard not to wonder: Is this a pattern in his matches? Just recently, he got into an argument with German Alexander Bublik at the Phoenix Challengers.

When Corentin Moutet had a spat with Alexander Bublik in Phoenix

Ten days ago, on March 14, the Phoenix Challenger in Arizona witnessed a fiery showdown between Alexander Bublik and Corentin Moutet. Corentin stormed ahead 6-2, 3-1, but Bublik, once a Top 20 player now ranked 82nd, refused to back down. He snatched the second set in a tiebreak and built a commanding 5-1 lead in the decider.

However, the real drama unfolded in the final moments of the match. As Bublik prepared to serve for the match, Moutet tried to slow him down, calling out, “I’m not ready.” Bublik’s response was blunt: “I don’t give a s***.”

Moutet staged a comeback, leveling the score at 5-5, but Bublik had the last laugh, breaking serve and sealing a 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 victory. The crowd chuckled, but the laughter quickly faded. Post-match handshakes turned into a heated face-off, with officials scrambling to separate the feuding players. Bublik could be heard saying, “You want to fight? Let’s go.”

As he navigates the ups and downs of professional tennis, it’s clear that Corentin Moutet is a player who wears his heart on his sleeve. What do you think about the Frenchman’s prospects going forward this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below.