Corentin Moutet posted an emotional message on social media following his ‘stupid’ mistake at the Davis Cup Finals. While representing France against Belgium, the 26-year-old hit a tweener while serving to stay in the second set of his match against Raphael Collignon. Unfortunately for him, the ball went straight into the net and he ended up losing in three sets.
France were ultimately eliminated from the Davis Cup Finals when Arthur Rinderknech lost his singles rubber to Zizou Bergs. Moutet was quizzed on his embarrassing moment after the match and admitted that he was left ‘feeling like a clown’. If he had managed to hold his serve in that game, the match would have gone to a tiebreak where he could have won in straight sets.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath, Moutet said: “I expected this question, not the first one, but I expected. What do you want me to say? Was it the best shot to play? I’m not sure. Or is the best choice to do on this ball? I’m not sure, as well.
“What can I say? I made it many times. People said I’m a genius when I made it. Now they’re probably going to say that I’m a clown. That’s how I feel right now.
“I think that the stress, the tension of the match, the emotion, that’s how I expressed it. I was tight on this game. So I think that’s why I did it.”
Moutet has since taken to Instagram with a grovelling apology, vowing to learn from the incident and come back stronger in the future.
Posting on his story, he wrote: “My heart is heavy. I would have liked to offer more to my country, to my team-mates, to the entire staff. I deeply regret this choice, this decision.
“I am an instinctive player, it’s what made me who I am, but sometimes that instinct betrays me. And when it happens, I’m the first to fall. Today, I feel like I failed in my mission.
“I wanted to give everything; I left everything on the court, but I would have liked to be better. I would have liked to be the man the team needed at that moment.
“I fought my demons, I fought my imperfections, I tried to stand tall until the end. But I’m sorry. Sorry to those who support us, sorry to my teammates, sorry for not succeeding as I hoped.
“Despite everything, thank you. Thank you to those who understand, and thank you to those who stand behind me.
“Thank you to the players, the captain, the staff, for making me a part of this family. I want to learn, always and forever. I want to turn this pain into strength. I will come back stronger, for you, for the team, for my flag.”