Corentin Moutet involved in eye-catching discussion with fan at Grand Prix Hassan II after surprise exit

In the Grand Prix Hassan II, Marco Trungelliti is having the campaign of his life. He has become the oldest top 100 debutant since 1969 and has earned direct entry into Roland Garros. However, these will not be taking the headlines from North Africa as Corentin Moutet was pictured in the crowd speaking to a fan after losing to the Argentine.

Moutet has never been far away from the spotlight in his tennis career. A very flamboyant tennis player who is not afraid to speak his mind or act instantly. This year alone he has thrown his racket out of a tennis stadium before having a back-and-forth online with Danielle Collins at the Miami Open.

He was looking to start his clay swing on the front foot. Coming off a defeat against the world number two, Jannik Sinner, in Florida, he was looking to get back on track with deep run in the only ATP tournament held in Africa.

He began well, thrashing home hero Taha Baadi 6-0, 6-2. The number three seed had secured a safe passageway into the quarterfinals, where qualifier Trungelliti would be his next task. While Moutet was the overwhelming favourite, tennis has a tendency to cause a surprise or two.

The Frenchman left it late in the first set to take command, clinically breaking at the right time to go 5-4 in front before seeing it out with ease to move him halfway to confirming his spot in the semi-final stage.

However, back came Trungelliti. He fought back with a lot of determination and class, surviving a break point before taking one of his own a game later to move 4-2 in front. He would not be left to rue a missed match point when 5-2 up on the Moutet serve, getting the second set done and dusted with his fourth match point as the crowd was treated to a final set decider.

Trungelliti would be the first to break but he was instantly pegged back by Moutet who was not prepared to let him run off into the sunset. However, his game faltered at a crucial time. Trungelliti broke to love to move 5-4 ahead before seeing it out expertly to confirm a first ATP semi-final in 402 weeks.

An outstanding achievement from the 36-year-old who is now in a career high 85th in the world in the live rankings after a 32-position rise. "Making the Top 100 was a big goal for basically my whole career," Trungelliti said after the win. "I feel over the past two years I was getting closer and closer in terms of level and mentally. Physically, I have been doing a lot better than my whole life, which helps a lot. It is amazing."

While it was delight for the Argentine, Moutet was not a happy man. Directly after the conclusion of the match, instead of strolling down the tunnel, he clambered into the stands as he moved towards a certain fan possibly giving him grief throughout the match. Fireworks were not displayed between them as it was said to be a relatively calm affair.

He will leave Morocco empty-handed but with bigger fish to fry with the Monte-Carlo Masters his next destination. He will take the short trip to Monaco, where a qualifier will be his first test. If he diverts that test, one of three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud or Alexei Popyrin will be his next challenge.