Moutet: "The demands of today's tennis are unbearable; it's impossible to play without pain"

Love for tennis as a driving force to overcome difficulties

"Still, I feel lucky to have the life I have. I feel fortunate to have been able to go out on the court today, despite everything. In Cincinnati, it was not at all clear that I could do it. After my match against Jódar in Montreal, I couldn't even train with intensity. 

It was not at all clear that I could be on the court today. I tried to enjoy as much as possible, but it is true that at this level it is very difficult to arrive without references. I made many mistakes; I had no automations. I don't know what to say, I work hard, I strive every day...

I can't say that it doesn't pay off because today I'm on the circuit and I'm lucky to live off my passion. After that, obviously, we always want more. I would like to have a better ranking, I would like to win more matches, I would like to have less pain, but we always want more. 

One must also be happy with what life offers us. Tennis has given me many beautiful gifts in my day-to-day life. I can't hold it against him in any way, but it is true that it is frustrating."

Moutet warns about the physical demands of professional tennis

"We are not aware of the intensity of our work. High-level sport is very intense for the body. We push our bodies to limits, even beyond those limits. It is inevitable that there will be pain. The body is not made for that. It's not just a matter of too-heavy balls or slower courts. 

It is also due to the fact that the level of players is getting higher and higher. The physical level is increasing. That is why practicing our sport requires so much. And for that, you have to train more and more. It’s a bit of a vicious circle. But that’s also what we like. I like it. I like to push my limits and go far in the effort. That's also why I like it. It challenges me every day."

The problem of being forced to play with pain

"When you don't play matches, you don't have work. That's why most players compete injured. Playing without pain doesn't exist. One must find the right balance between what is reasonable and what is not. That is what we are constantly trying to find. 

I have made decisions at times when I think it wasn’t reasonable to play, but I decided to do so because I love this sport and because I had ambitious goals. But sometimes that ends up taking a toll on you. 

One must know when to put down the racket and be cautious, something I have not managed to do. Now we will sit down with my team and see what happens. Still, today I lasted more than two hours on the court. And less than a week ago, I was playing thirty minutes a day with soft balls. It’s a pretty good sign for the future, I hope."

Corentin Moutet has wanted to raise awareness among the entire tennis community, presenting a scenario that does not seem sustainable over time as players are pushing their bodies beyond reasonable limits. How far will the technical advance of tennis go? Will there come a time when everything changes because it is untenable to continue like this?