By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Photo credit: Tennis TV Screenshot
The fiery Corentin Moutet faced a dramatic exit in Madrid, culminating in a racquet smash and retirement today.
During his match against compatriot Harold Mayot, Moutet found himself trailing 6-3, 3-2 when Mayot unleashed a stunning winner down the line.
Frustrated, Moutet took a swing at his racquet, forcefully hitting it against the back wall. Then, he picked it up and broke the racquet head, receiving a code violation warning and a point penalty, slipping deeper into a 6-3, 4-2 deficit.
As he made his way back to the bench, Moutet offered his damaged racquet to a fan, who declined the gesture.
Moutet, seemingly struggling with a back injury, approached chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani to shake his hand and briefly grimaced, clutching at his lower back. The umpire then announced Moutet’s retirement due to injury, drawing a chorus of boos from the Madrid crowd.
This incident marked Mayot’s inaugural main-draw victory in Madrid, as he advanced to face the 20th seed, Francisco Cerundolo, in the next round.
