“Next time i’ll kill you”: Moutet vs. Kotov erupts over alleged death threats

Thursday, 01 May 2025 at 19:31

Corentin Moutet once again at the center of controversy: accuses rival of death threats. The world No. 82 was facing Russian Pavel Kotov (No. 121) at the Challenger 175 Aix-en-Provence, in a match marked by a suspension due to lack of light.

They were playing on Wednesday and were in the final minutes of the match, in which the Frenchman had recovered from 1-4 down in the third set, and Kotov was preparing to serve with the score at 5-7, 6-3, 5-5. Then, the chair umpire decided that the match would be suspended due to lack of light.

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That night, Moutet accused Kotov of death threats on social media. "Next time you come to the net, I'll kill you," the Russian allegedly said to Moutet, according to the Frenchman's account. "One day someone will kill you," he added.

"Not even a warning apparently those words are allowed on the court," he added. "If you don’t want me to get involved why are you not doing your job?" the Frenchman finished by tagging the official ATP Tour account.

Iván Aguilar

@ivabianconero

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🚨Durísima acusación🚨 Corentin Moutet🇫🇷 contó en redes que su rival, Pavel Kotov🇷🇺, lo amenazó de muerte durante su partido en el Challenger de Provence "La próxima vez que vengas a la red, te mataré. Un día alguien te matará” 🔎Instantes después el francés borró el post

8:22 PM · Apr 30, 2025

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Moutet and Kotov returned to the court this Thursday, amidst the tensions. Moutet secured an immediate break and then closed out the victory with his serve 7-5 in the third set. The match ended with an euphoric Moutet celebrating and no handshake at the net between the players.

The Frenchman deleted the post on his social media but later shared another post mentioning the situation. "I'm going to have trouble sleeping.." he wrote.

Corentin Moutet

@moutet99

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Je vais avoir du mal à dormir..

Avantage Tennis 🎾

@AvantageTennis_

Corentin Moutet aurait été menacé de mort par Pavel Kotov lors de leur match du 1er tour à Aix-en-Provence. 😳 « La prochaine fois que tu viendras sur au filet, je te tuerai » « Un jour, quelqu'un te tuera » (@moutet99)

7:39 PM · Apr 30, 2025

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Moutet a finalement gagné contre Kotov en 2 jours ! Pas de serrage de mains évidemment mdrr

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11:41 AM · May 1, 2025

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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