France’s Corentin Moutet fined $40K for repeatedly dropping F-bomb in post-match interview at Queen’s Club

HENRY NICHOLLS via Getty Images

Last month, French tennis player Corentin Moutet received an unsportsmanlike conduct warning for pulling down his shorts after losing a point during the Hamburg Open.

This month, a new flavor of his eccentricity was on display, and it’s wound up costing him financially. Moutet has been fined $40,000 for what the ATP described as “unsportsmanlike conduct” after using “profane language,” according to multiplereports on Friday.

Moutet, 27, dropped the F-bomb a whopping seven times in less than a minute during his post-match interview on Tuesday after outlasting fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(5) in the Round of 32 during the ATP HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in West London.

“Moutet has confirmed that he will appeal the fine in accordance with ATP rules,” an ATP statement said, via The Athletic.

“The appeal will be reviewed by the ATP Tour Compliance Committee. No further comment will be made while the appeal process is ongoing.”

Following the match, in which Moutet — who’s 36th in the ATP rankings — dispatched the big-serving, 22-year-old Mpetshi Perricard, BBC interviewer Jenny Drummond asked Moutet about the difficulty of returning a 142-mph second serve Mpetshi Perricard sent him.

Moutet let out a slight chuckle.

“That’s so frustrating,” he said with a grin. “When I had the match point, I was on the second serve. OK, you aim in the middle, whatever you do, you just put the ball in the court.

“And then he hits me 142, and I was like, ‘F***. I will have to serve. …’”

Moutet appeared to notice that he allowed the expletive to slip when the crowd reacted with laughter.

Drummond then said, “No F-bombs please.”

Instantly rebelling, and perhaps reveling in the joy of his victory, Moutet responded with three more: “F***, f***, f***.”

Drummond pulled away the mic and quickly said, “No, no, no,” as fans continued to shower down laughter.

“I’m going to ask you one more question,” Drummond said. “Apologies everyone for the language there. “I’m going to ask you one more question so please keep it clean, OK?”

Moutet appeared to acknowledge that request.

But then when Drummond inquired what it felt like for Moutet to pick up the grass-court win, he continued to jester.

“F***, f***, f***,” Moutet petulantly repeated.

Once again, spectators seemed equal parts bewildered and humored.

Drummond, on the other hand, was understandably concerned, given the disruption to a normally polished and kid-friendly atmosphere.

“OK, Corentin, we need to improve that for the next round,” she said. “Apologies everyone.”

Moutet later clarified in an Instagram comment that he was “just joking” and that he hoped “you guys didn’t get offended,” as reported by The Athletic.

He lost in the Round of 16 to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Thursday.