The BBC was forced to hastily cut short a swear-filled interview with controversial tennis player Corentin Moutet at Queen's after he unleashed profanities seven times during the live transmission.
Match Background
The Frenchman was discussing his triumph over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the second round — a contest that stretched across two days after poor light forced a suspension to Monday evening's action. Play was halted with Moutet leading 2-1 in the third set, after the 27-year-old demanded proceedings be called off. When the match resumed, Moutet prevailed, setting up a showdown with either Cameron Norrie or fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Interview Incident
During his on-court conversation with the BBC's Jenny Drummond, Moutet started by lauding his French countryman Mpetshi Perricard, declaring: "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 quizzed about a particular moment where Mpetshi Perricard delivered a scorching 142mph second serve, Moutet accidentally blurted out a profanity: "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 halted mid-sentence, prompting Drummond to withdraw the microphone while cautioning: "No f bombs please!" However, when the mic was handed back to him, the world No. 36 triggered a "no, no, no!" from the BBC presenter by responding: "F***, f***, f***!"
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 simply repeated: "F***, f***, f***."
Drummond offered another apology before terminating the interview: "OK. Corentin we need to improve that for the next round. Apologies everyone. Corentin Moutet!"
Studio Reaction
The BBC then returned to Clare Balding in the studio. The presenter 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."
Potential Sanctions
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 wrote on social media: "I was just joking, hope you guys didn't get offended. Thanks for the love."
Previous Controversy
This wasn't the only controversy Moutet has caused at Queen's, having earlier refused to continue playing on Monday evening as darkness approached. The BBC's Annabel Croft said she was "quite appalled" by Moutet's antics and observed: "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?"
