By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday May 11, 2025
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. For Corentin Moutet, it was everything.
The Frenchman rejoiced in an electric atmosphere as he triumphed in his first ever appearance on Rome’s iconic Pietrangeli, defeating ninth-seeded Holger Rune 7-5 5-7 7-6(4) for his first career Top-10 win in his 13th attempt.
“It was so hard today,” Moutet said. “He’s such a great player – even at the end when I had the break he was still fighting, still trying to find a way. It was incredibly hard today.”
3 hours 44 minutes 🥵@moutet99 vs. Holger Rune becomes the second longest best of three set match at the @InteBNLdItalia and fourth overall! #IBI25 pic.twitter.com/l4yyDIRvjl
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 11, 2025
Fans streamed into Pietrangeli as the contest took place and eventually became the longest three-set match of 2025, and the second longest three-set match in tournament history. The even gawked from the top rows of Campo Centrale, turning away from Alexander Zverev’s blowout of Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubus and straining their eyes to see into the stadium.
During Zverev’s match people on the Center court are watching Moutet-Rune on Pietrangeli. The match of the tournament so far! pic.twitter.com/078AqGuZP2
— Pellegrino Dell’Anno (@pelledelpo02) May 11, 2025
Moutet squandered a trio of set points while serving for the win, but later would rally from 3-1 down in the final set tiebreak for his biggest career win. When it was over – 3:44 on the clock! – he fell to his back on the clay to soak in the moment.
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“First time on this court, it’s beautiful,” he said. “I’ve always seen it when I was walking to the practice courts, now today I’m playing on this court and everybody is here for us. I don’t know what to say, I fought so hard with myself, I’m so happy.”
Fils Joins Moutet in Round of 16
Moutet will be joined by compatriot Arthur Fils, who reached the round of 16 with a 2-6 6-4 6-2 victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas. Two Frenchman have reached this far at Rome for the first time since 2016.
Fils is now 4-0 lifetime against the former Roland-Garros finalist.
“He’s a great, great, great player, especially on clay,” Fils said. “During the first set, he killed me. I had to find a way. I managed to break at 4-4 with a great game, a bit lucky as well. But I’m very happy with how I finished the match. It was a tough battle, and I finished strong.”
There was some drama in the match, as Tsitsipas tagged Fils with a backhand in the second set. After the match the pair had words about the incident, which were heated at the start, but eventually the players came to an understanding.
“He went for my body. It’s part of the game. Nothing wrong with it” 🗣️
Here’s what happened between Arthur Fils and Stefanos Tsitsipas as they battled in Rome…#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/OOvsAwD7mW
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 11, 2025
