Corentin Moutet Plays Australian Open Match Despite Health Scare - UBITENNIS

Corentin Moutet Plays Australian Open Match Despite Health Scare

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read

France’s Corentin Moutet revealed he suffered a blackout but didn’t have enough time to seek medical advice before his third round match at the Australian Open on Saturday.

The world No.69 told French media that he passed out whilst in the shower without any prior warning that he was going to. Moutet said he finished his shower just 45 minutes before taking to the court after ‘spending 15 minutes in the dark.’ He played American rising star Learner Tien who beat him 7-6(10), 6-3, 6-3.

“I fainted 45 minutes before the match in the shower. I don’t know what happened. I was in the shower, I woke up on the floor. Everything was black, I couldn’t see.” L’Equipe quoted Moutet as saying in French.

“It was unexpected because I felt good all day, not too much aches, I was pretty fit, I had recovered well from my previous matches. It was a bit disturbing. I didn’t have many points of reference, I was a bit dazed from the fall. I didn’t hurt myself, but I was dazed.

“During the warm-up, there was a bit of panic wondering how I was going to do it. It was hot today and it was tough physically.

“Honestly, I’m proud of myself. I didn’t start the match in the best conditions. I did the best I could to disturb him. It didn’t work out, but you have to know how to lose too.”

Moutet said he didn’t hesitate about playing against Tien despite suffering a health scare which he has never had before. Instead, he relied on his team to help overcome being disorientated.

“I took a shower 1h30 before the match and I finished the shower 45 minutes before. I had a blackout, I don’t know exactly what happened. I just know that I spent 15 minutes in the dark.” He said.

“I didn’t have time to consult because I had my match, I had to warm up. Very quickly we tried to do balance exercises to find my visual references because I was a little disoriented.”

Moutet, who has been ranked as high as 51st in the world, was playing in the third round of a Grand Slam for only the fifth time in his career. Only twice has he made it through to the last 16 of a major which was at the 2022 US Open and last year’s French Open.

Despite his fainting episode, the Frenchman insisted that it shouldn’t be used as an excuse for his defeat as he praised Tien’s performance. The American 19-year-old is the youngest male player to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

“He was better in every area. I tried to hold him physically.” He said.

“I’m surprised I cramped in the third set because I felt fresh this morning, I didn’t have any aches. Which shows that things are moving very quickly. He gave me an intense battle. I had to build the points, be patient. I had a clear tactic in mind, I really thought I could get through it. I believed in it until the last point. The important thing is to have done my job.

“He deserves the support he has in the stadium. I’m disappointed to have lost but I’m happy for him. He deserves it. He beat me fair and square.”

Tien will next play Lorenzo Sonego.

TAGGED:
Leave a comment