He went to a few balls of absolute happiness.
Corentin Moutet played and lost this Monday, September 28 at Roland-Garros against the Italian Lorenzo Giustino (157th in the world and from qualifying) the second longest match in the history of the Paris tournament.
After 6 hours and 5 minutes of an epic and marathon fight, the Frenchman had to surrender (0-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 18-16).
The fifth and final round, which lasted three hours, succeeded in attracting to the edge of the modest court N 14 many spectators attracted by this suspense.
Tired, exhausted, the 71st player in the world confirmed “feeling nothing” and feeling “drained”.
"I'm not going to splurge tonight," he admitted with a bitter smile, before admitting that all the conditions were in place to achieve a great performance.
“There was a lot of audience.
There was everything for me to win this match.
The unfortunate loser even confided that he would have continued the fight well.
"I think we were both tired"
“Honestly, I would have preferred it to last a little shorter.
It would mean that I would have won my service games to finish the match.
Afterwards, yes, I was ready to continue for several hours.
I do not know if physically, I would have held ”.
“I think we were both tired,” he said.
These are very demanding conditions
(sic)
physically.
Already, to play a normal match under these conditions, it is not easy.
When you play for more than six hours, of course it was complicated at the end.
"
The two Frenchmen Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clément, opposed in the first round in 2004, still hold the record for the longest match of the fortnight (6-4, 6-3, 6-73-6, 16-14), won by the first in six hours and thirty-three minutes of play.
Lorenzo Giustino wins!
After 6 hours and 5 minutes of play, the Italian overcomes the French, who will have yet served 3 times for the match.
Giustino finally wins 0/6, 7/6, 7/6, 2/6, 18/16.
It's the second longest game in history at #RolandGarros!
pic.twitter.com/uQeWbcrB3Z
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) September 28, 2020
Moutet, who took the service of the Transalpine three times in the final set, did not want to minimize his loss to a player from qualifying.
“Frankly, I'm not ashamed of having lost against this player, other than the disappointment that I lost, as I would have against any player.
He has already won four games here.
Well done to him.
What was more than me?
He held on physically, and in his head.
"
"Me, I'm afraid of being positive" at Covid-19
Finally, the Frenchman from the Paris region returned to the special atmosphere of this tournament so dear to his heart, played not far from his home in a tense health context linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It's complicated, because we're afraid.
Me, I'm afraid to be positive, because if I am positive, that would mean that I can no longer practice my job, he notes.
So, it's true that we are pushed a bit to stay alone, whether it's outside of tournaments, during tournaments, it's a bit complicated, especially when I live three minutes from here, it's complicated to have to stay at a hotel, far from loved ones ”.
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“Afterwards, it's the same for everyone.
I'm not saying I'm more miserable than anyone else.
I'm just saying it's hard not to see your family, not to share this with them, he says.
I am used to sharing it with my relatives every year.
It wasn't possible this year, it's a shame, but hey, it's for the good of all, and it's necessary.
There are things that are more important than our well-being as tennis players.
We must make do.
"
