"it’s very high but he was told a few times not to swear on live TV!” - Boris Becker reacts to Corentin Moutet’s $40,000 fine after Queen’s Club outburst

Boris Becker reacted to the $40,000 fine received by Corentin Moutet after his on-court outburst in his latest tournament. The French player drew attention for his comments in the Queen’s Club Championships post-match interview, where he repeatedly swore – even after being warned not to do so.

The left-hander has attracted attention both on and off court. A player with a distinctive on-court style, but also one who has repeatedly been provocative throughout his career. He has clashed with fans on multiple occasions, although more recently it has been his behaviour that has cost him.

The Frenchman reportedly repeated the ‘F’ word up to seven times during the on-court interview, clearly audible for both the stadium crowd and the official television broadcast. The interviewer even attempted to stop him, and after warning Moutet not to repeat it, the Frenchman insisted on his words.

"Moutet has confirmed that he will appeal the fine in accordance with ATP rules," an ATP statement said, via The Athletic. "The appeal will be reviewed by the ATP Tour Compliance Committee. No further comment will be made while the appeal process is ongoing."

Moutet had a successful debut at Queen’s, defeating his compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7, 6-4, 7-6. However, his run came to an end in the second round, losing to fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 4-6, 3-6.

Days later, the tournament announced a $40,000 fine for the world No. 36 for swearing during his televised interview.

Recently, six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker reacted to Moutet’s comments, criticising his behaviour. While he described the fine as high on social media, he agreed that a sanction was justified. “Certainly teaches him a lesson … it’s very high but he was told a few times not to swear on live TV!” Becker posted on social media.

Moutet will lose almost all of his prize money from the tournament. He earned €37,780 for reaching the second round at Queen’s, approximately $43,300. The Frenchman is now preparing for his return on Monday at the Mallorca Championships, where he will be the sixth seed and will face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in his opener.

Moutet has not been a stranger to controversy throughout his career, with repeated episodes of tension involving opponents, chair umpires, and crowds across both ATP and Challenger events. One of the most notable came at the 2024 Chile Open in Santiago, where his match against home favourite Nicolás Jarry unfolded in a highly hostile atmosphere. Moutet was repeatedly booed by the local crowd and responded with visible frustration and provocative reactions during play, contributing to a tense, emotionally charged encounter defined by crowd hostility and on-court exchanges.

At the Challenger level in Phoenix, his recent semifinal defeat to Marcos Giron also ended in controversy, with Moutet visibly frustrated and throwing his racquet out of the stadium immediately after match point. The incident reinforced a recurring pattern of emotional reactions following defeats in tightly contested matches.

Earlier episodes further underline this trend. At the 2024 Mallorca Open, he was involved in a dispute with the chair umpire after a net-related ruling went against him, briefly refusing to continue play and arguing the interpretation of the rule in a prolonged exchange.

At the 2024 Madrid Open, Moutet received a point penalty during a heated moment and reacted strongly towards both the umpire and the crowd, which had already been hostile during the match. Meanwhile, in a well-documented clash with Alexander Bublik at the Phoenix Challenger in 2024, tensions between the two escalated to the point of nearly turning physical, reflecting a rivalry marked by repeated verbal confrontations.