Moutet's coach exposes unsportsmanlike conduct during Santiago tournament ahead of French Open opener
ATP
Corentin Moutet’s coach, Petar Popovic, has opened up about how the French tennis player was abused during his outing in Santiago earlier this year.
The 25-year-old is set to face Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the
opening round of the French Open on Sunday. Ahead of the match, Popovic recalled
how his client was treated during their previous outing in the Chile Open back
in March and was also critical of Jarry's behaviour during the incident.
“The fans (in Santiago) were behaving like a bunch of
animals,” siad Popovic. “The worst possible behavior you can get at a tennis
match. It was like football, they insulted Corentin non-stop. They swore at him
between points, they booed or whistled as he was about to serve.
“When (Corentin) went to the toilet after the first set,
some fans even threatened him. Then I had to threaten them, so they changed
their tune. Really ugly atmosphere to play in, and we basically had two-three
members of security, around 65 years old, by us.
“Jarry’s father was really nice, he tried to calm the fans,
to explain to them that it’s not the right way to behave, but Jarry should have
behaved like a true host, he should’ve taken the microphone and say: ’Don’t do
that, don’t curse at him, don’t boo as he tosses the ball’.
Nicolas Jarry is coming into the French Open after an impressive outing in the Rome Open.
“Jarry should have stepped up there, but not only that he
didn’t to that, he tried to give a lesson to Moutet at the net by telling him
’patetico’ (pathetic). The next day, we played against Tabilo, also a Chilean,
and he did all the right things.”
That contest ended with Moutet’s win as he came out on top in
straight sets with a score of 7-6, 7-6. However, things will not be as easy
this time around as Jarry is coming into this event on the back of an
impressive outing in the recently concluded Rome Open, where he finished as the
runner-up after losing in the final to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in straight
sets with a score of 6-4, 7-5.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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