"I just have to punish him": Alexander Bublik has final word in Paris with Corentin Moutet

When Alexander Bublik defeated Corentin Moutet at the Phoenix Challenger earlier this year, their post-match handshake was anything but cordial.

The two ultimately had to be separated following Bublik’s comeback victory, with the Kazakh even suggesting they take their disagreement away from the court to have “a fight.”

Across the net from one another Wednesday at the final ATP Masters 1000 event of the season, Bublik once again had the final word. Both with his racquet, in a 6-3, 7-5 victory, and with the media after seemingly reading the Frenchman’s pre-match comments declaring his “motivation” to send Bublik home.

🖥️📲 Full Replay: Bublik vs. Moutet, Paris Masters

The No. 13 seed signed the camera lens, “on the way home” following his second-round win on Center Court at La Defense Arena.

Speaking with ATP Media, Bublik shared, “Well obviously he spoke too much before the match. I just have to punish him. So I had no other option.

“He said that he will do everything to send me home. It’s nice that he lives in Paris and it’s not too far with the taxi.”

Bublik and Moutet have both enjoyed upward trajectories after being ranked No. 82 and No. 79 when they nearly came to blows in March. The 28-year-old has racked up four titles on his way to a career-high No. 16 ranking, while the left-hander has compiled 33 tour-level victories in approaching the Top 30 for the first time.

Fourth seed Taylor Fritz awaits Bublik in the round of 16. The American infamously had the last laugh with another Frenchman, Arthur Rinderknech, at 2024 Wimbledon when he told his opponent to “have a nice flight home” in response to seeing Rinderknech “take a shot at me” ahead of their second straight meeting at a Grand Slam event.