ATP Tour player Corentin Moutet has been handed a massive fine after swearing seven times in less than a minute during a post-match on-court interview at the HSBC Championships.
The Frenchman used profane language during his Queen’s Club interview after defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round on Tuesday. He has been fined $40,000 by the ATP for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Tennis World Reacts to Corentin Moutet Receiving $40,000 Fine After Queen’s Club Fiasco
The ATP announced a $40,000 fine for Moutet on Friday and said the player would appeal the punishment. The 27-year-old dropped the F-bomb unprovoked when asked about overcoming Mpetshi Perricard’s fast serves during their Queen’s Club match. After interviewer Jenny Drummond requested him to keep the interview “clean,” he proceeded to swear six more times.
The tennis world did not hold back in its criticism of Moutet after the news of the fine broke. “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” wrote tennis content creator Bastien Fachan on X.
Journalist José Morgado also joined in the criticism and pointed out how Moutet’s fine exceeded his earnings at Queen’s Club. Moutet was eliminated in the second round of the HSBC Championships by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and will earn $43,330 in prize money, albeit before taxes.
“That’s more than his prize money from this week. So he paid to reach the second round,” he wrote.
A tennis fan questioned why Moutet was appealing the fine after he was caught swearing live on camera and continued to use profanity even after the interviewer asked him to stop.
“Appeal what exactly???? The apology is great, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he swore multiple times after Jenny Drummond told him to stop,” they wrote.
Another user criticized Moutet for continuing on his rant and claimed that the Frenchman was solely responsible for the consequences of his actions.
“I doubt he would have received any fine for the first f-bomb. But the rest of the interview was just childish on his part, although I guess some folk found it funny! Only himself to blame for this one,” they wrote.
Moutet received plenty of criticism for his post-match interview on Monday, with six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker questioning what was wrong with him.
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After an eventful week at Queen’s Club, Corentin Moutet will turn his attention to the Wimbledon Championships. The world No. 36 holds a 7-14 win-loss record for the year and made the third round at the Australian Open for his best result on the main tour.
