Corentin Moutet (69th) had a spat with the referee in his first round of the US Open tennis match, which he ultimately lost 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-0 against American Sebastian Korda (16th) on Tuesday in New York.
After a good first set lost in the tie-break, the match turned for the 25-year-old Frenchman at 3-1 for Korda 40-40 in the second set. As the American prepared to serve, Moutet turned to the referee to ask him what he was doing with the tournament phone to his ear.
“You’re crazy, you’re 100% wrong!”
“I do my job, you do yours”the official replies curtly, triggering the anger of the Frenchman, who then approaches the chair as the tone rises.
“Why are you yelling at me when it’s your fault?”complained Moutet. “I didn’t scream!” After several minutes of interruption, the game resumed and Korda eventually won after saving several break points.
Corentin Moutet, very angry, asks to call the supervisor against Sebastian Korda. ud83dude20ud83dudc68u2696ufe0fud83cudfbe pic.twitter.com/JTkx5GwO0U
— thewitcher444 (@sb222l333) August 27, 2024
Refreshed, Moutet resumed his discussion with the referee as he sat down: “You’re crazy, you’re 100% wrong! And you’re yelling at me. He’s about to serve, you’re on the phone, what am I supposed to do?”he repeated, picking up a penalty point for “unsportsmanlike conduct” in the process.
“It took me out of my game, it’s my fault”
“Call the supervisor now, use your phone. You’re making me lose my temper.”complained the tricolor again, who was never able to regain his concentration afterwards.
“The referees use their power to dominate the players, he was on the phone several times while my opponent was ready to serve […] They don’t even have to call the balls anymore (because of electronic refereeing, editor’s note), they don’t have much to do anymore, they can at least watch the match”lamented the player after the match.
Sebastian Korda defeats Corentin Moutet 7-6, 6-1, 6-0 and refuses to shake hands with the umpire. ud83dude2eud83dude45u2642ufe0f pic.twitter.com/T2eGseSxt8
— thewitcher444 (@sb222l333) August 27, 2024
“It took me out of my game, it’s my fault”added the tempestuous Frenchman.
