French ATP star accuses opponent of making death threats: ‘One day someone will kill you’
French ATP player Corentin Moutet has accused opponent Pavel Kotov of threatening to kill him during the pair’s match on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Moutet and Kotov faced off in the first round of the Aix-en-Provence Challenger, and the incident took place after the match was suspended at 5-5 in the third set on Wednesday night due to light.
In a post on X that he has since deleted, Moutet alleged that Kotov said: “Next time you come to the net, I’ll kill you. One day, someone will kill you.
The 26-year-old Frenchman added: “There wasn’t even a warning. Apparently, those words are allowed on court.
“How do you expect me not to get involved if you don’t do your job? @atptour.”
The world No 82 also quoted a tweet sharing his accusation with the comment: “I’m going to have trouble sleeping…”
The match resumed on Wednesday, and Moutet won the final two games to prevail 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in front of a vociferous home crowd.
Moutet celebrated loudly, and there was no handshake between the two players.
No hand shake after the Moutet and Kotov match
Moutet claimed Kotov said to him:
– “The next time you come to the net, I’ll kill you. One day someone will kill you”Some heavy accusations if true
No love lost here @ the end#ATPChallenger
— NewmarkTennis (@NewmarkTennis) May 1, 2025
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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).
The Frenchman fell to a 6-7(3), 6-7(3) defeat to Reilly Opelka in the second round in Aix-en-Provence.
He has endured a difficult run of form since reaching the third round of the Australian Open in January.
Moutet is no stranger to controversy during his matches, having been involved in a number of arguments with opponents and umpires.
After Moutet’s 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.
Kotov, who is currently ranked 121st, peaked at 50th in the rankings in June last year.
The 26-year-old Russian has not responded to Moutet’s claims.
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