Moutet’s underarm serve seals Australian Open first-round win

French tennis player Corentin Moutet sparked controversy on the opening day of the Australian Open by using an underarm serve on match point to secure his first-round victory against local player Tristan Schoolkate.

The 32nd-seeded Moutet defeated Schoolkate 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-3 on Sunday at Melbourne Park’s Kia Arena, concluding the match with the unexpected tactical move that drew immediate boos from the predominantly Australian crowd.

When questioned about his decision in the post-match press conference, Moutet defended his strategy as legitimate and effective. “I did it because I thought I could win the point,” the 26-year-old Frenchman explained. “I won the point actually. Of course, no disrespect or anything.”

The underarm serve, while perfectly legal under tennis rules, remains a controversial tactic at the elite level of men’s tennis, particularly when deployed at critical junctures like match point. The technique involves delivering the serve from a lower position than the standard overhead motion, often catching opponents off guard when they position themselves far behind the baseline.

Schoolkate, positioned well behind the baseline, was visibly surprised by the tactic. His hurried return sailed long, confirming Moutet’s victory and triggering the adverse crowd reaction. Though unusual, the technique has been employed by several high-profile players in recent years, including Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Bublik, who have occasionally used it as a strategic variation.

Moutet’s first-round performance wasn’t without challenges. The Frenchman visibly struggled with physical discomfort throughout the match, played in the challenging Melbourne summer heat. He required a medical timeout during the third set for what initially appeared to be a leg issue.

After the match, Moutet clarified that his difficulties stemmed from multiple factors rather than a specific injury. “It was more of a ‘global’ issue,” he said, explaining that a combination of illness, physical soreness, and poor sleep over preceding days had affected his performance.

“We all have some kind of pain every day that we have to deal with,” Moutet added. “So, yeah, I was trying to handle it the best way possible. 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.”

Despite these challenges, Moutet expressed confidence in his ability to recover before his second-round encounter. “I really know the most important is to get through it and deal with it in the best way,” he said, “and I can leave it behind me.”

The victory marks a positive start to Moutet’s 2024 Grand Slam campaign. His career-best performance in major tournaments came at last year’s French Open, where he reached the fourth round on his home soil. In Australia, his previous best showing was advancing to the third round in 2023.

Looking ahead in the tournament draw, Moutet could potentially face a significant challenge if both he and world number one Carlos Alcaraz advance as expected. The two would meet in a compelling third-round matchup that would test Moutet’s form against one of the sport’s most dynamic young talents.

The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the tennis calendar year, continues to deliver compelling storylines and occasional controversies as the tournament progresses through its opening rounds. The championship features full player fields across men’s and women’s singles draws after the pandemic-affected tournaments of recent years, with capacity crowds returning to Melbourne Park’s showcourts.