Get ready for a bold move that left the crowd in Melbourne stunned! Corentin Moutet, the 32nd seed at the Australian Open, served up an underarm surprise on match point, and it worked!
The French tennis star, in his 27th major tournament, sealed his first-round victory with a crafty underarm serve, leaving his opponent, Tristan Schoolkate, with a long forehand return. The crowd at Kia Arena expressed their surprise with loud boos, but Moutet remained unfazed, later explaining his instinctual decision.
"I did it because I thought it was the best chance to win the point, and it worked!" he said. "No disrespect intended, but it was a calculated move."
The underarm serve, while legal, is a rare sight in men's tennis, especially on match point. However, Moutet's bold choice caught his Australian rival off guard, showcasing a strategic move that many might consider controversial.
"I decided to go for it because it felt like the right option at that moment," Moutet explained.
But here's where it gets interesting: Moutet, 26, had been struggling with the heat on Day 1 of the season-opening major. He took a medical timeout in the third set, citing a combination of sickness, soreness, and lack of quality sleep.
"We all deal with pain and discomfort daily," he said. "I'm proud of how I managed it and glad I came through. It wasn't easy, being the first match of the year, but I'm happy with my performance."
Moutet's best major tournament run was a fourth-round finish at the 2024 French Open, and he reached the third round in Australia last year. If he advances and top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz also wins, they could face off in the third round at Melbourne Park.
Moutet is confident he can overcome his first-round struggles and is ready for the next challenge.
"The key is to push through and handle it as best I can. I'll leave those issues behind and focus on the next match," he said.
So, what do you think? Is the underarm serve a clever tactic or a controversial move? Let us know in the comments!
