Mike Frey-Imagn Images
French professional tennis player Corentin Moutet claims his opponent, Pavel Kotov of Russia, threatened to “kill” him earlier this week. Moutet added that he was “going to have trouble sleeping” after the alleged threat.
Corentin Moutet claims Kotov made the death threat after their match in the first round of the Aix-en-Provence Challenger was suspended 5-5 in the third set on Wednesday night due to light.
The 26-year-old wrote in a since deleted post on X (Twitter) that Pavel Kotov told him, “Next time you come to the net, I’ll kill you. One day, someone will kill you.”
Moutet also added, while tagging the ATP tennis tour, “There wasn’t even a warning. Apparently, those words are allowed on court. How do you expect me not to get involved if you don’t do your job?”
Corentin Moutet, X
He would later comment in a quoted post by Avantage Tennis about the alleged death threat from Kotov, “I’m going to have trouble sleeping…”
On Wednesday, the tennis match between Moutet and Kotov was resumed. Moutet won the final two games to move on in the tournament 7-5, 3-6, and 7-5. The two men did not shake hands afterwards. Moutet would go on to lose his next match in the tournament to Reilly Opelka 6-7(3), 6-7(3).
No hand shake after the Moutet🇫🇷 and Kotov🇷🇺 match 🥶
Moutet claimed Kotov said to him:
– "The next time you come to the net, I’ll kill you. One day someone will kill you"Some heavy accusations if true😳
No love lost here @ the end#ATPChallenger
— NewmarkTennis (@NewmarkTennis) May 1, 2025
Corentin Moutet is no stranger to controversy. At the Phoenix Challenger in March, he and his opponent Alexander Bublik had to be separated after shaking hands following their tennis match. Things got so heated that Bublik told Moutet, “You want to fight? The French kid is speaking and he doesn’t want to fight. Let’s go. We meet in 10 minutes outside.”
Alexander Bublik to Corentin Moutet during their match at a Challenger event in Phoenix.
*Bublik about to serve*
Moutet: “I’m not ready.”
Bublik: “I don’t give a sh*t” 💀
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 15, 2025
Les coulisses de l’altercation entre Alexander Bublik et Corentin Moutet 🇫🇷 au Challenger 175 de Phoenix la semaine dernière 👀
🗣️ « Tu veux qu’on se batte ? On se voit dehors dans 10 minutes » 😶pic.twitter.com/HfeV7Mfusv
— Univers Tennis 🎾 (@UniversTennis) March 19, 2025