Why Novak Djokovic’s next French Open opponent Corentin Moutet is a controversial figure
Novak Djokovic’s second round match at the 2025 French Open promises to be intriguing as he is set to face an explosive home crowd favourite.
The world No 6 opened his campaign at Roland Garros with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory over world No 98 Mackenzie McDonald.
The 38-year-old Serbian is aiming to become the oldest player to win a Grand Slam singles title as he chases his fourth French Open crown and a record-extending 25th major.
Here, we look at Djokovic‘s second round opponent, Corentin Moutet.
Who is Corentin Moutet?
Corentin Moutet was born on 19 April, 1999 in Boulogne-Billancourt, a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France, and he started playing tennis with his parents at the age of three.
The 26-year-old’s favourite tournament is the French Open and he idolised tennis icon Rafael Nadal while growing up.
Moutet has said he would be a musician if he was not a tennis player. He released a hip-hop album titled ‘Écorché’ in 2020 and is also a talented pianist.
A look at Moutet’s record
The Frenchman, who turned pro in 2016, holds a 73-98 career ATP singles record and he is 9-9 on the main tour in 2025.
Currently ranked 73rd, Moutet reached a career-high ATP ranking of world No 51 in November 2022 and he has reached the fourth round at both the French Open (2024) and the US Open (2022).
Moutet reached his only ATP Tour final at the 2020 Qatar Open, losing to Andrey Rublev, while he has won six titles on the ATP Challenger Tour.
He arrived at this year’s French Open after an impressive run to the last 16 at the Italian Open, where he stunned 10th seed Holger Rune in a third round epic for his first career top 10 win.
Moutet defeated world No 280 and fellow Frenchman Clement Tabur 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-3 in the opening round at Roland Garros.
Moutet’s playing style and why he is controversial
Moutet has become known as a volatile and controversial figure after being involved in a number of contentious incidents.
At the 2022 Adelaide Open, Moutet was disqualified from his match against Laslo Djere for swearing at the chair umpire.
In October of that year, Moutet and his opponent Adrian Andreev were separated by the umpire after they shoved each other in a scuffle following their match at the Orleans Challenger.
The Federation of French Tennis (FFT) expelled Moutet the following month — cutting all his funding and denying him access to their coaches — due to his behaviour.
Moutet has also been involved in some controversial moments in 2025.
After his defeat to Alexander Bublik at the Phoenix Challenger in March, the pair had to be separated by the umpire as they exchanged words following a tense handshake.
Earlier this month, Moutet accused opponent Pavel Kotov of threatening to kill him during a match at the Aix-en-Provence Challenger.
Moutet’s mercurial attitude, coupled with his entertaining playing style, makes him an engaging watch.
The left-hander frequently uses underarm serves and drop shots, while his court coverage and defensive skills are arguably his biggest assets.
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When will the match take place?
The second round French Open match between Djokovic and Moutet has been scheduled third on Court Suzanne Lenglen on Thursday.
What is the head-to-head record?
Djokovic has won both of the pair’s previous matches: 7-6(2), 6-4 at the 2019 Paris Masters and 6-3, 6-1 at the 2024 Italian Open.
What Djokovic said about facing French players at Roland Garros
Ahead of his second round match, Djokovic was asked about the behaviour of the French crowd when supporting home players and whether it has worsened over the years.
“Let’s look at the four Slams. No matter where you go, when you face a local player, they’re going to have the crowd on their side. There’s nothing strange about that,” Djokovic said in his press conference after beating Mackenzie McDonald.
“It’s true that here in Paris, France, if you compare it to the other Slams, the crowd is louder, more passionate, and gives more energetic support to their players, which for some can be irritating (smiles). It’s not the ideal environment, of course, but you have to be ready.
“I’ve played in a lot of hostile environments throughout my career; it’s nothing I haven’t experienced before. If I face a French player at Roland Garros, I expect the majority to cheer for the French player; it’s nothing personal.
“It’s true that when you’re on the court and things happen that cross the line, I understand players who want to protect their space, their integrity, and if someone disrespects you… there are spectators who come to bother you.
“I don’t think they’re the majority; it’s just a few, but I’ve experienced them a few times: sometimes you ignore them, but sometimes you confront them. That’s it. Out there, it’s a battle, sometimes not just against one player.”
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