In a moment of high drama at Melbourne Park, French tennis player Corentin Moutet secured his place in the second round of the Australian Open with a highly unorthodox underarm serve on match point.
A Controversial Match Point
The incident occurred on Sunday 18 January 2026 on the Kia Arena court. Seeded 32nd, Moutet was facing Australian opponent Tristan Schoolkate. With two sets already in the bag, Moutet found himself at match point in the third set. Instead of a conventional power serve, he opted to slice in a delicate underarm delivery, catching Schoolkate completely off guard.
The Australian's forehand return floated long, handing Moutet a 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory. The move was met with loud boos from sections of the crowd, but the Frenchman remained unmoved, later defending his tactical choice.
Instinct Over Disrespect
In his post-match remarks, Moutet explained that the serve was more instinctual than a pre-meditated act of gamesmanship. "I did it because I thought it would be ... I could win the point," he stated. "I won the point actually. Of course, no disrespect or anything."
He emphasised that the underarm serve, while rare at the elite level of men's tennis and particularly on such a crucial point, is entirely within the rules. "I decided to do this, so I thought it was the better option in the moment," Moutet added.
Overcoming Adversity to Advance
The 26-year-old's path to victory was not straightforward. Competing on a scorching Day 1 of the season's first Grand Slam, Moutet visibly struggled at times. He required a medical timeout in the third set for an apparent leg issue, which he later clarified was a "global" problem.
"It was a combination of sickness and soreness and lack of quality sleep over the previous few days," Moutet revealed. "We all have some kind of pain every day that we have to deal with. So, yeah, I was trying to handle it the best way possible."
Despite the physical challenges, Moutet expressed pride in his performance. "I’m glad that I did well, you know, proud of myself. It wasn’t easy, obviously, it’s the first match of the year, so it’s always hard." His best previous result at a major was a fourth-round finish at Roland Garros in 2024, while his best run in Melbourne was a third-round appearance last year.
Looking ahead, a tantalising prospect awaits. If Moutet wins his next match and world number one Carlos Alcaraz advances as expected, the pair would clash in a blockbuster third-round encounter. Confident he can move past his first-round ailments, Moutet concluded: "I really know the most important is to get through it and deal with it in the best way, and I can leave it behind me."
