World number 64, Corentin Moutet and no. 247, Adrian Andreev got into a fight after their second-round match at the Challenger in Orleans.
The French player was the highest-seeded at the event and he was one of the favourites to win the event. However, after winning the first set 6-2 against Adrian Andreev in the second round, he couldn't win any of the tie-breaks and eventually lost the match.
After the match, Corentin Moutet and his Bulgarian opponent got into an argument that quickly escalated in a fight between the two players. Umpire quickly rushed to separate the two, but it seems that there were scenes also after both players went into the locker room.
Soon after the match, Moutet released a statement about what happened and he also revealed that he waited for his opponent as "he told him to wait at the exit".
"I don't want to apologize for what happened late in the match. When a player allows himself to say "fuck you" twice while looking me in the eye, I can't help but make him understand in my own way that these are not things that are done," stated Moutet shortly after the match.
"You applauded this player late in the game. Maybe for you these are acceptable things. Not for me. In any case he threatened me and asked me to wait for him at the exit of the court. Which of course I did. I struggled to find him for 10 minutes."
"Indeed he was hidden on the other side behind 6 security people. Of course I heard your threats so when you get out of the room where they hid you I will be very happy to see you carry them out. So I'm waiting for you impatiently, we can talk calmly."
Despite the ugly scenes, the Frenchman didn't forget to thank tournament organisers for giving him a wild-card and chance to compete at the Challenger tournament in Orleans.
"Otherwise, thanks again to Open de Orleans for the WC, I did my best. I would have liked to go further to better honor it. I am sorry," concluded Moutet.
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