Tommy Paul ends the hopes of Moutet and France at Paris 2024 | ITF
Article 31 Jul 2024

Tommy Paul ends the hopes of Moutet and France at Paris 2024

Romain Vinot

31 Jul 2024

Corentin Moutet, the last French player left at Paris 2024, fought and put on a show on a melting Court Suzanne-Lenglen before giving in to the consistency and control of USA’s Tommy Paul.

For the first time since the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, there will be no French representative in the quarter-finals of the men's singles.

Encouraged for 2 hours and 17 minutes by chants as funny as they were motivating, "Coco" finally gave way, but not without saving six match points before losing 7-6(5) 6-3.

It was heartbreaking for the last French standard-bearer at the Olympic Tennis Event. "I was the last French rider in the race and I had a lot of hope and pressure, I wanted to do well," he said. “It's not an individual competition, it's a team competition and we have to give everything for the people who come to support us. I knew that if we lost, we didn't have a chance."

Moutet was quickly broken in his third round encounter, which was just his second match of the week after he was given a walkover against Jan-Lennard Struff on Tuesday. The man from Neuilly-sur-Seine hung on as usual however, with drop shots, lobs and passing shots down the line to make the world No. 13 doubt his strengths.

These tactics paid off for Moutet to get back to 4-4 before losing a tight tiebreak. There were some great exchanges, incredible points that captivated the supporters as the momentum shifted between players on this scorching afternoon at the Porte d'Auteuil.

But it was not only the sun that was beating down on the head of Roland Garros quarterfinalist Moutet; there was also the loss of that very close first set. Broken at the start of the second set, the Frenchman was far too passive in many games during which the American was able to show his mastery and full range of skills.

Despite a last stand to keep his head above water at 2-5 and then 3-5, Moutet had to resign himself the end of an encouraging, if frustrating, first Olympic chapter.

"I'm very frustrated because in a tournament like this, there's no point in playing in the round of 16 or the quarter-finals, you have to bring home a medal for your country. I was ambitious otherwise I wouldn't have come, I really believed that I could do it, but I didn't succeed. I was obviously not the favourite and I will be told that it's crazy to dream but when you are selected, you have to give yourself the means to dream big."

Moutet was not even sure if he would be able to play at Paris 2024 a few days ago and qualified thanks to his very good run on this same clay a few weeks ago. He can be proud of his adventure, once the disappointment has been subsided.

"There was a crazy atmosphere, the fans were cheering me on all points, including at the end of the match," he said. “We are all united during the match. It's the Olympic Games, we all had the same goal, we're playing for our country and it's bigger than playing individually. I wasn't even sure if I could play here and it's already a victory to have held on physically. I absolutely didn't want to miss these Games, I gave up on a Grand Slam to play here. I did everything I could to be able to defend the colours of my country. I did the best I could."

After defeating the last French tennis player standing at these Olympic Games, Tommy Paul continues his adventure and will face Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.

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