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Moutet loses almost all prize money for swearing on BBC TV

Q: What is this sports story about?

France's Corentin Moutet loses almost his entire Queen's prize money after being fined $40,000 for swearing seven times in a live BBC television interview.

Q: Who published this story?

This story was published by BBC Sport on June 19, 2026 and curated on Africa Front.

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Trade & AfCFTA, Infrastructure, South Africa News

June 19, 2026

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Moutet loses almost all prize money for swearing on BBC TV

Published22 minutes ago

France's Corentin Moutet has lost almost his entire Queen's prize money after being fined $40,000 (£30,325) for swearing seven times in a live BBC television interview.

The 27-year-old has been given the maximum punishment for unsportsmanlike behaviour at the west London club by the ATP Tour - but has appealed against the fine.

Moutet earned prize money of about £32,800 for reaching the second round at the ATP 500 event.

The world number 36 repeatedly swore in an on-court interview following his first-round win against compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Tuesday.

Moutet subsequently lost to Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the last 16 on Thursday.

Shortly after the interview, Moutet wrote on Instagram that he was "just joking" and hoped people "didn't get offended".

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Moutet first used an expletive to describe how he felt when Mpetshi Perricard saved a match point with a 142mph second serve.

When the interviewer asked him not to repeat the word, Moutet said it three more times.

The interviewer apologised for the language but Moutet swore again three times and the interview was ultimately cut short.

Presenter Clare Balding also apologised for the language afterwards.

Moutet has previously been punished by the men's tour and his national federation for his behaviour.

He was defaulted from the 2022 Adelaide International for swearing at the umpire after losing the second set against Serbia's Laslo Djere.

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) also dropped him in November of that year - meaning he lost his financial aid - because of a lack of "exemplary behaviour".