Corentin Moutet experienced a scary incident before his third round match at the Australian Open, collapsing in the shower and losing consciousness for 15 minutes. Despite this troubling experience, the Frenchman took the court against the young American Learner Tien, ultimately losing 7-6(10), 6-3, 6-3.
A terrifying fall
Moutet, ranked 69th in the world, revealed he was feeling perfectly fine earlier in the day but suffered an unexpected collapse in the shower just 45 minutes before the match.
“I didn’t feel good 45 minutes before the match in the shower. I don’t know what happened. I was in the shower, and I woke up on the floor. Everything was black, I couldn’t see,” Moutet told The Team.
The 25-year-old added that he has no memory of what caused the fall or the moments immediately following it.
“I have a black hole, I don’t know exactly what happened. I just know I spent 15 minutes in the dark. It was a little disturbing. »
No time for medical advice
Despite the incident, Moutet did not have time to consult a doctor before his match. Instead, he focused on restoring his balance through balance exercises.
“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 get my visual bearings back because I was a little confused. »
Moutet’s resilience on the court
Moutet started the match competitively, contesting a close first set and forcing a tiebreak which he narrowly lost 12-10. However, as the match progressed, his physical struggles became evident. The Frenchman called for a trainer but continued to fight despite his discomfort.
-Afterwards, Moutet refused to blame his collapse for the defeat.
“No, you never lose for a reason. He was better in every area. I tried to hold on physically. »
Praise young Tien
Moutet was gracious in defeat, praising Tien for his impressive performance. The 19-year-old qualifier became the youngest man to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
“Respect to my opponent,” Moutet wrote on X. “I fought until the end with the means of the day, but he was better. I can only agree that he was better. Well done to him. »
Move forward
Although the circumstances of his defeat were unusual, Moutet expressed his determination to regroup and come back stronger.
“I’m going back to work. Thanks for the support,” he added on social media.
For Learner Tien, the victory marked another milestone in a remarkable tournament journey. For Moutet, the match was a testament to his resilience, even in the face of unexpected adversity.
