Tension (and humor?) spark rivalry in Bublik-Moutet Paris Masters clash
“I just had to punish him, he talked too much”, Alexander Bublik said about Corentin Moutet after their secound round match at the Rolex Paris Masters.
Alexander Bublik, Rolex Paris Masters 2025 | © F. Pestellini / PsNewz
Tension and humor mixed in a spirited showdown between Alexander Bublik and Corentin Moutet at the Rolex Paris Masters on Wednesday.
After Bublik secured a 6-3, 7-5 victory, he lightheartedly responded on court: “He talked too much before the match. I just had to punish him. It’s nice that he lives in Paris – it’s not too far by taxi,” injecting humor into the rivalry.
Bublik had just signed the camera lens “on the way home” in reference to the Frenchman’s pre-match comments: “I’ll try to send him home.”
Moutet : “People who talk, and people who do”
The pair’s handshake was chilly, fueling memories of their previous heated exchanges earlier in the season.
Their last encounter, in the quarterfinals of the Phoenix Challenger 175, had already been electric: Bublik won 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 in a particularly tense atmosphere. As the Kazakhstani was about to serve for the match, world No. 80 Moutet asked to wait, provoking Bublik’s anger, who snapped back sharply, “I don’t care!” The incident nearly escalated right before the umpire’s eyes.
I just had to punish him. It’s nice that he lives in Paris – it’s not too far by taxi.
“I know live in Dubai,” Moutet reacted. “But I don’t think it’s personal coming from him. He is like that with many players. He likes to make fun of players when he plays against them.”
“You know, there are people who talk, and people who do. I think he is part of the first category. There’s no point in getting into a verbal clash — I’m not into that. I know the real person he is, beyond the character he shows through the media, so there’s no point in talking behind a microphone.”
Bublik will have the racquet talking against Taylor Fritz on Thursday.
