Frenchman Corentin Moute (64 ATP) and Bulgarian Adrian Andreev (247 ATP) were one step away after the 1/8 final match of the Challenger tournament in Orleans.

Corentin Muthe and Adrian Andreev, tense moments after the match in Orléans

Moute, the main favorite of the French competition, was defeated after almost three hours of play with a score of 2-6 7-6(3) 7-6(2).

At the net for the classic handshake at the end of the game, they held hands for a while and exchanged a few words. Tempers quickly escalated, but the referee rose from his chair in time to intervene.

In a post on Instagram, Mute claimed that Andreev cursed and threatened him, but he has not yet expressed his point of view.

“I don’t want to apologize for what happened at the end of the match.

When a player allows himself to say “damn” twice while looking me in the eye, I can’t help but let him know in my own way that it’s not done that way. You applauded this player at the end of the match. Maybe these are acceptable things for you. Not for me.

In any case, he threatened me and asked me to wait for him at the exit. Which I did. After ten minutes I got hard. In fact, six guards were hiding him.

I have listened to your threats, so when you come out of the room you have been hiding in, I shall be very glad to see you carry them out.

I’m looking forward to seeing you so we can talk in peace (the French didn’t use the clown smiley either)” – Corentin Muteon Instagram.

The two players also met a week ago at the Genoa Challenger, with the Bulgarian also winning that match 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.