Moutet Eliminated by Fearnley, French Curse Continues Against the Brit

Coming through qualifying and pulling off a surprise win over Fritz, the tournament's fourth seed, Moutet faced Fearnley on the center court at Queen’s. The two players had met only once before on the tour, in Stockholm in 2024 (a 6-2, 7-6 victory for the Brit).

After splitting the first two sets, the two men had to settle the match in a third. Full of energy, Moutet once again showcased his wide array of shot variations. A fan of the slice, he also created numerous break point opportunities across both sets (12). However, it wasn’t enough against the Brit, who ultimately prevailed in three sets (6-3, 2-6, 6-2).

The 23-year-old right-hander, ranked 60th in the world, made his mark on grass last year by winning the Nottingham 2 Challenger. Undefeated against French players, Fearnley continues his incredible streak, now boasting a 17-0 record.

For a spot in the semifinals, he will face the Czech world No. 30 Lehecka, who defeated Diallo in the previous round.