After easily passing the two qualifying rounds this weekend, Corentin Moutet came close to winning his first round match, Monday, in Monte-Carlo, against the Australian Alexei Popyrin, 46th in the world (3-6 , 7-5, 6-2 in 2h42).
Once again equipped with his two-handed backhand after a 2023 season where his right wrist forced him to only play cut backhands, Corentin Moutet (101st) is in the process of returning to the level which had led him to the gates of the top 50 , end of 2022. After beating two opponents better ranked than him (Alex Michelsen, 70th, and Daniel Altmaier, 54th), the 24-year-old left-hander led again, Monday, 6-3, 5-4, but without a break. And in vain.
Missed meeting with Rublev
After two extremely competitive first games (1-1 after 22 minutes of the match), the debates became tense between the two players, Moutet believing that the Australian supporters were a little excessive, Popyrin forgetting to apologize after balls let or passings played on the man.
Better equipped to maneuver on clay thanks to his speed of movement and the variety of his shots, Moutet knew how to remain involved and constant for almost two entire rounds. A poor service game at 5-5 cost him the set, and control of the match. A break at the start of the third set placed Popyrin in orbit. The latter put aside two break points at 2-1 then sailed quite easily towards victory.
In the second round, he will face world No. 6, Andrey Rublev, who is also the defending champion on the Rock.
2024-04-08 12:23:16
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