Moutet’s Heated Interview at Queen’s Sparks Controversy

Key Points

• French tennis player Corentin Moutet used the ‘F’ word seven times during a live BBC on-court interview at Queen’s Club after his victory
• Moutet defeated fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a three-set first-round match carried over from Monday evening due to darkness
• BBC interviewer Jenny Drummond explicitly told Moutet “no F-bombs please” but he replied “F*** f*** f***!” immediately
• Drummond apologised to tea-time viewers for the language, well within earshot of fans including young children at Queen’s Clubhouse
• Presenter Clare Balding stated Moutet was “living up to his bad-boy image” and noted his tattoo reading “Chaos makes the muses”
• Co-presenter Annabel Croft called Moutet’s behaviour “appalling” on BBC Two
• Moutet is likely to face a substantial ATP fine and could lose a significant portion of his £33,000 prize money
• The 27-year-old world number 36 has never progressed past the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament
• Moutet was disqualified from Adelaide International in January 2022 for swearing at the chair umpire after losing the second set
• He was fined 10,000 Euros by ATP following a scuffle with Adrian Andreev at Orleans Challenger in October 2022
• In November 2022, FFT expelled Moutet from French Federation of Tennis, removing financial aid and his coach due to repeated bad behaviour
• FFT stated: “We cannot condone this type of behaviour. We ask our players and coaches for an exemplary attitude”

London (Britain Today News) June 16, 2026 – London witnessed one of the most shocking moments in recent tennis history when French player Corentin Moutet delivered a foul-mouthed on-court interview that left BBC television viewers stunned at Queen’s Club on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Frenchman used the ‘F’ word an astonishing seven times during his live post-match chat with interviewer Jenny Drummond following his three-set victory over compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Despite being explicitly warned “no F-bombs please,” Moutet continued his expletive-filled outburst, forcing Drummond to cut the interview short while apologising repeatedly to tea-time viewers including young children sitting near the Queen’s Clubhouse.

What Exactly Happened During Moutet’s BBC Interview at Queen’s?

The dramatic incident unfolded after Moutet defeated Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a first-round match that spanned two days due to darkness halting play on Monday evening. As reported by the journalist covering the Independent’s sports bulletin, Moutet said the ‘F’ word seven times in a remarkable on-court BBC interview that has now gone viral across social media platforms.

When BBC interviewer Jenny Drummond asked Moutet how Mpetshi Perricard saved a match point with a 142mph second serve, the world number 36 responded with raw frustration:

“When he hits me at 142, I was like f***!”.

This initial outburst prompted laughter from the crowd but immediately triggered Drummond’s intervention.

As reported by the Independent’s sports correspondent, Drummond was forced to quickly intervene, retracting the microphone and stating prominently, “No f bombs please!”. However, the situation escalated dramatically when the mic returned to Moutet, who continued to slip up, prompting a “no, no, no!” reaction from the interviewer as he repeated “F***, f***, f***!”.

Drummond attempted a final effort to guide the conversation back on track. As documented in the Wales Online report, she said:

“I’m going to ask one more question so please keep it clean, OK?”.

She then asked about Moutet’s first victory on grass:

“You’re on grass for the first time this week unfortunately, but what is it like to get your first victory?”.

Moutet’s response to this final question was limited to yet another expletive barrage: “F***, f***, f***.”. This final outburst forced Drummond to cut the interview short completely, with the cameras cutting back to the studio.

Why Did BBC Presenters Call Moutet’s Behaviour Appalling?

When the cameras returned to the BBC Two studio, presenter Clare Balding addressed the incident directly with viewers. As reported by the Independent, Balding said:

“And just to repeat those apologies for everyone watching BBC Two and iPlayer”.

Balding then provided context about Moutet’s reputation, noting:

“Corentin Moutet living up to his bad-boy image. ‘Chaos makes the muses’ is what he wrote on the camera screen there. It’s a tattoo that he has as well. And, yep, chaos is what he can create”.

The co-presenter’s reaction was even more severe. As reported by the Independent’s sports team, co-presenter Annabel Croft, a former British number one, called Moutet’s behaviour “appalling”. This condemnation from a respected former player highlighted how seriously the tennis community viewed the outburst.

Drummond herself said “no, no, no” and apologised for the language during the interview, well within earshot of fans, including young children, sitting in front of the Queen’s Clubhouse. The presence of children in the audience made the incident particularly concerning for BBC producers responsible for daytime television broadcasting.

Will Corentin Moutet Face an ATP Fine for His Outburst?

The financial consequences for Moutet are expected to be substantial. As reported by the Independent, French tennis player Corentin Moutet is facing a substantial ATP fine after repeatedly swearing during the live BBC television interview at Queen’s Club.

Despite earning approximately £33,000 for his win at Queen’s Club, Moutet is expected to lose a significant portion of his winnings in the form of a fine from the ATP. The exact amount of the fine has not yet been announced, but previous incidents suggest it could be considerable.

Moutet, who has never been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam, is likely to be fined by the ATP for his outburst. This pattern of disciplinary issues has marked his career throughout the men’s game.

What Is Corentin Moutet’s History of Volatile Behaviour on Court?

The 27-year-old Frenchman already had a reputation as one of the more volatile players in the men’s game after a host of incidents in his colourful career. His history of disciplinary problems extends back several years and includes multiple disqualifications and fines.

Adelaide International 2022 Disqualification

At the Adelaide International in January 2022, Moutet was disqualified for swearing at the chair umpire immediately after he lost the second set of his second-round match. As reported by uBiTennis,

“It was at this stage when he started to swear towards the direction of the umpire’s chair”.

The situation escalated when both players left the court for a toilet break. As documented by uBiTennis,

“When Moutet returned the umpire called over the tournament supervisor before disqualifying him for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct'”.

As a result, he lost his second-round prize money.

According to Tennis365, Moutet was disqualified from the Adelaide International for insulting an official during his second-round match as he shouted “f*** you” several times at the chair umpire. The tennisnet.com report confirmed that “Fuck you” could also be clearly heard over the international broadcast signal.

Adrian Andreev Scuffle and ATP Fine

He was fined by the ATP later that year following a scuffle on the court with Adrian Andreev. As reported by Tennis.com,

“The ATP has fined France’s Corentin Moutet and Bulgarian Adrian Andreev 10,000 Euros each for unsportsmanlike conduct a week ago at the ATP Challenger event in Orléans”.

The pair got into a shoving match following their meeting in the second round and had to be separated by the umpire on court. As Tennis Majors reported,

“Both men were fined 10,000 Euros each for the on-court incident, while Moutet received a further 5,000 Euro fine for his behaviour off the court after the match”.

FFT Expulsion in November 2022

And in November 2022, Moutet was expelled from the French Federation of Tennis (FFT), losing financial aid and his coach, after repeated bad behaviour. As reported by Eurosport,

“La Fédération française de tennis l’a un temps écarté de ses rangs, en novembre 2022, jugeant que son comportement ne correspondait pas ‘aux valeurs que la FFT veut transmettre'”.

The FFT confirmed their decision with a clear statement:

“We cannot condone this type of behaviour. We ask our players and coaches for an exemplary attitude”.

As Eurosport France reported, the federation stated:

“Le comportement de Corentin Moutet sur le court ne correspond pas aux valeurs que la FFT veut transmettre”.

According to L’Equipe, as reported by Tennis Majors,

“Corentin’s behaviour on court does not correspond to the values that the FFT wishes to transmit. We cannot support this type of behaviour”.

This expulsion meant Moutet lost his federal coaching support and financial assistance from the French tennis system.

How Has Moutet Responded to Past Disciplinary Actions?

Moutet has occasionally responded defiantly to disciplinary actions. According to L’Equipe, as reported by Tennis Majors, controversial Frenchman Corentin Moutet tweeted “thanks for your support” to the FFT after it congratulated him for his late win over Cameron Norrie, essentially trolling the French Tennis Federation after his removal.

This pattern of defiance suggests Moutet has not fully accepted the criticism surrounding his behaviour on court, despite multiple disciplinary actions from both the ATP and FFT.

What Does This Incident Mean for Queen’s Club Championships Reputation?

The HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club has traditionally been known as one of the more prestigious and family-friendly pre-Wimbledon tournaments. The incident involving Moutet’s foul-mouthed interview represents a significant challenge to the tournament’s reputation, particularly given the presence of young children in the audience near the Clubhouse.

Jenny Drummond’s repeated apologies during the interview, well within earshot of fans including young children sitting in front of the Queen’s Clubhouse, highlighted the awkwardness of the situation for tournament organisers. The BBC’s need to issue studio apologies from Clare Balding further emphasised the seriousness of the broadcasting breach.

What Are the Broader Implications for Tennis Broadcasting Standards?

This incident raises important questions about broadcasting standards in tennis, particularly for daytime television coverage on major networks like BBC Two. The fact that Moutet used the ‘F’ word seven times despite explicit warnings demonstrates the challenges interviewers face when conducting live on-court interviews with emotionally charged players.

BBC presenter Clare Balding’s repetition of apologies for “everyone watching BBC Two and iPlayer” underscored the network’s responsibility to maintain appropriate standards for daytime audiences. The incident occurred during a live broadcast, meaning there was no opportunity for editorial intervention before the expletives reached viewers.
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Where Does Moutet Stand in the World Tennis Rankings?

Corentin Moutet currently holds the world number 36 position in the ATP rankings. The 27-year-old Frenchman has established himself as a consistent presence on the ATP Tour despite his disciplinary issues. However, his Grand Slam record remains limited, as he has never progressed past the fourth round of any Grand Slam tournament.

This ranking position means Moutet remains a competitive player on the international circuit, though his volatile behaviour has arguably prevented him from achieving his full potential at the highest levels of the sport.

What Next for Corentin Moutet After Queen’s Club Incident?

The immediate future for Moutet involves awaiting the ATP’s disciplinary decision regarding his Queen’s Club outburst. As reported by the Independent, he is likely to be fined by the ATP for his outburst. The substantial fine could significantly impact his £33,000 prize money earnings from the Queen’s Club victory.

Beyond the financial consequences, Moutet will need to consider how this incident affects his already damaged reputation within the tennis community. Annabel Croft’s “appalling” comment from a former British number one represents significant criticism from within the professional tennis world.

The incident also reinforces Moutet’s “bad-boy image” as Clare Balding noted, with his “Chaos makes the muses” tattoo serving as a physical symbol of his controversial approach to the sport. This self-identified chaotic identity appears to be at the core of his recurring disciplinary problems.

As the tennis community processes this latest incident, questions remain whether Moutet will finally address his behavioural issues or continue the pattern that has led to multiple disqualifications, fines, and even expulsion from the French Federation of Tennis.