Corentin Moutet accused tennis umpire Timo Janzen of “saying bulls***” after going on a bizarre rant during his opening match at the Moselle Open in Metz. The No. 8 seed wasn’t happy when the automated Hawkeye system called one of his serves out in the third set.
He still won the game, but tried to ask the umpire for his opinion on whether the ball landed in or out. When Janzen did not give Moutet an answer, the Frenchman went off on a tangent, asking the official if he preferred “chicken or beef” and then suggesting he consider a career in politics.
Moutet was locked in battle with Aussie star Aleksandar Vukic at the ATP 250 event in Metz after being taken to a deciding set. The Frenchman hit a serve at 2-2 in the third set that was called out and immediately protested, asking to see a replay.
“That’s right on the line, I swear. I saw it on the line. I swear on everything,” he protested. “Not even close, I swear. No way. You cannot double check? It’s like straight on the line like this, I swear. How it’s possible that they show another mark? Like physically, how is it possible? I swear. Oh my god.”
Moutet had to play on, this time on a second serve. He won the next point and easily held serve, but he still wasn’t happy and confronted Janzen during the next changeover.
“For you, my serve was out? Your opinion, don’t tell me a political answer, your opinion. Yes, no, it’s easy,” the world No. 31 asked the umpire as he headed to his bench.
“For you, is the ball in, or is the ball out? Easy. In, out. Oh my god. Are you answering like this all your life? Man, it’s like, is the ball in or out in your opinion?”
The umpire’s microphone was inaudible, but he did not tell Moutet what he thought of the serve, and the 26-year-old grew increasingly frustrated.
Moutet continued: “Man, do you realise that you cannot answer a simple question? Oh my god. What can you do? Like, do you want chicken, or do you want beef? ‘Oh, I don’t know because like chicken is nice, beef is nice’.
“Man, you’re unreal. But we won’t change anything. It’s just a simple question, your opinion. I know it’s close. That’s why I’m asking your opinion.”