‘Disturbing’ – Eliminated tennis star competed in Australian Open just 45 minutes after collapsing in shower
Corentin Moutet has revealed he blacked out after a terrifying collapse in the shower just 45 minutes before his Australian Open defeat.
The Frenchman crashed out on Saturday following his third round loss to America's 19-year-old starlet Learner Tien in straight sets.
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Tien won 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 to become the youngest man to reach the fourth round in Melbourne since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
But in truth, his meeting with Moutet should never have taken place following a 'disturbing' incident less than an hour before their Show Court Arena affair.
In an interview with following his defeat, Moutet dropped the bombshell that he was left 'dazed' after a fall, but had no time to alert a doctor.
The 25-year-old said: "I fainted 45 minutes before the match in the shower. I don't know what happened.
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"I was in the shower, I woke up on the floor. Everything was black, I couldn't see.
"It was unexpected because I felt good all day, not too much aches, I was pretty fit, I had recovered well from my previous matches. It was a bit disturbing.
"I didn't have many points of reference, I was a bit dazed from the fall. I didn't hurt myself, but I was dazed.
"During the warm-up, there was a bit of panic wondering how I was going to do it."
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Pressed on whether he had told a member of the Australian Open medical team about his collapse, Moutet remarked: "No, I didn't have time.
"It was 45 minutes before the match. I woke up in the shower. I took a shower [90 minutes] before the match and I finished the shower 45 minutes before.
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"I have a blackout, I don't know exactly what happened. I just know that I spent 15 minutes in the dark. I felt fine before, nothing, no alert.
"And I didn't have time to consult because I had my match, I had to warm up.
"Very quickly we tried to do balance exercises to find my visual references because I was a little disoriented."
Though Moutet, who has failed to progress further than the fourth round at any Grand Slam, refused to blame his fall for his defeat as he waxed lyrical over Tien.
He stated: "He was better in every area."
Before adding: "He deserves the support he has in the stadium. I'm disappointed to have lost but I'm happy for him.
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"He deserves it. He beat me fair and square. I can go out with my head held high."
Tien, who dumped out fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in the second round in what is the shock of the tournament so far, will face Italy's Lorenzo Sonego for a place in the quarter-final.
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