A Bold Move that Shook the Crowd!
In a surprising twist during the Australian Open, Corentin Moutet executed a daring underarm serve on match point, clinching his first-round win against Tristan Schoolkate. The crowd at Kia Arena reacted with loud boos as Moutet, who is seeded No. 32, remained unfazed. He explained that his decision was instinctive rather than premeditated, stating, "I did it because I thought it would be ... I could win the point. I won the point actually. Of course, no disrespect or anything."
The underarm serve, while permitted by the rules, is seldom seen among top male players, especially at such a critical moment. This particular serve took Moutet's Australian opponent by surprise, contributing to Moutet's victory with set scores of 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-3.
Reflecting on his strategy, Moutet commented, "I decided to do this, so I thought it was the better option in the moment."
As the 26-year-old Frenchman battled the sweltering conditions on Day 1 of the tournament, he faced challenges, including needing a medical timeout in the third set due to what seemed like a leg issue. Moutet clarified that this discomfort stemmed from a broader problem involving illness, soreness, and poor sleep in the days leading up to the match. "We all have some kind of pain every day that we have to deal with," he acknowledged. "So, yeah, I was trying to handle it the best way possible.
Moutet expressed pride in his performance, noting the difficulty of starting the season with a match of this intensity, saying, "I’m glad that I did well, you know, proud of myself. It wasn’t easy, obviously, it’s the first match of the year, so it’s always hard."
Throughout his career, Moutet has participated in 26 major tournaments, with his best result being a fourth-round finish at the 2024 French Open. Last year, he reached the third round at the Australian Open. Looking ahead, if he wins his next match and top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, expected to advance, continues his journey, there's a possibility that Moutet will face him in the upcoming third round at Melbourne Park.
Moutet is optimistic about overcoming the challenges he faced in his opening round, stating, "I really know the most important is to get through it and deal with it in the best way, and I can leave it behind me."
What do you think about Moutet's bold choice to use an underarm serve at such a critical moment? Was it a clever tactic or an unnecessary risk? Share your thoughts in the comments!
