The BBC was forced to cut short an expletive-laden interview with controversial tennis player Corentin Moutet at Queen's Club after he swore seven times during the live transmission.
Match Resumes After Delay
The Frenchman was discussing his triumph over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the second round—a contest that stretched across two days after poor light led to Monday evening's play being halted. Proceedings were paused with Moutet leading 2-1 in the third set, following the 27-year-old's insistence that play be suspended.
When the match recommenced, Moutet secured victory, setting up a meeting with either Cameron Norrie or fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, reports the Express.
Interview Turns Chaotic
During his on-court conversation with the BBC's Jenny Drummond, Moutet started by commending his French compatriot Mpetshi Perricard, saying: "The guy is playing incredible. He's an amazing player. It was so much pressure because every point is very important because he's serving that good that he puts so much pressure on my service game. I'm so happy to make it today. It's been a long last two months so I'm happy to get a win here. Thanks to all of you for coming both days and I'm very happy to get the win here today."
When asked about a specific moment where Mpetshi Perricard delivered a scorching 142mph second serve, Moutet inadvertently let slip an expletive: "That's so frustrating. When I had match point I was on the second serve, you aim in the middle, whatever you do just put the ball in the court and then he hits me with 142. I was like, 'F*** I will have to serve.'"
The Queen's Club crowd burst into laughter as Moutet stopped mid-sentence, causing Drummond to withdraw the microphone while cautioning: "No f bombs please!" Nevertheless, when the mic was handed back to him, the world No. 36 prompted a "no, no, no!" from the BBC presenter by responding: "F***, f***, f***!"
Presenter Apologizes
Drummond tried to restore order: "Right Corentin I'm going to ask you one more question. Apologies everyone for the language there. I'm going to ask you one more question so please keep it clean OK?"
She asked: "You on the grass. Last week unfortunately didn't go your way but what's it like to get your first victory?" Yet Moutet merely repeated: "F***, f***, f***."
Drummond offered another apology before ending the interview: "OK. Corentin we need to improve that for the next round. Apologies everyone. Corentin Moutet!"
The BBC subsequently returned to Clare Balding in the studio. The host said: "Just to repeat those apologies for everyone watching on BBC Two and iPlayer. Corentin Moutet living up to his bad boy image. 'Chaos makes the news' is what he wrote on the camera screen there. It's a tattoo he has as well. And yep, chaos is what he can create! He's through to the second round."
Expected Financial Penalty
Moutet is expected to face a financial sanction for his behaviour during his BBC interview. He has collected £32,660 (€37,780) at the tournament so far this week and posted on social media: "I was just joking, hope you guys didn't get offended. Thanks for the love."
Earlier Controversy
This wasn't the only controversy Moutet has generated at Queen's, having earlier refused to continue playing on Monday evening as daylight diminished. The BBC's Annabel Croft said she was "quite appalled" with Moutet's conduct and remarked: "I just thought he left the court for quite a period of time, so that ate into the light they had left, and then he categorically sat down and said, 'I am not playing on, get the supervisor out.' He was 2-1 up. James Keothavong made it clear and said we don't stop at that. we have to stop on an even game, and he said, 'Well, I'm not playing.' He argued with the supervisor and the chair umpire, and at one point, Denise [supervisor] had to say, 'Please, will you let me speak.' And he got his way. I thought this is not right. He said I do not want to come out tomorrow and want to serve, I thought if you do that, that's an advantage because you are serving first. For [Giovanni] Mpetshi Perricard, that's unfair, as he's had to sleep being down 2-1. I thought it was bad that player power overruled a referee and an umpire. How did that happen?"
