It was an emotional day at the Davis Cup Finals 2025, where France was eliminated by Belgium. Raphael Collignon beat Corentin Moutet in the first match, and Zizou Bergs later sealed the win with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Arthur Rinderknech. Yet, one key moment drew attention as Moutet’s failed showboating attempt badly hurt his chances for Team France. The incident sparked criticism, and the Frenchman has now shared his responses toward the critics, adding more discussion to France’s tough exit.

Corentin Moutet started well, winning the first set 6-2 against Raphael Collignon. The second set was close and seemed ready for a tiebreak. At 6-5 and 15-15, the Frenchman received a simple ball that should have helped him control the point. Instead, he chose to attempt a risky and flashy shot. He tried a drop shot through the legs, a showboating moment meant to surprise his opponent. It was the kind of shot often seen in highlight reels, but this one failed at the worst time.

The mistake immediately changed the match. Moutet lost the point, then the game, and then the set. From there, Collignon gained confidence and completed a comeback win. After the match, Moutet faced criticism for his trick shot, which many felt cost him the contest. Among the critics, French journalist Bastien Fachan called the shot “unnecessary.” He even entered the press room while the second rubber was still in progress. He knew the question was coming. “I was expecting this question, to be honest, although not as the first one,” Moutet confessed. 

“What do you want me to say? Was it the best shot to play at that moment? I’m not sure. Was it the best option for that ball? I don’t know either. What can I say at this moment? I have done it many times in my career, people usually say I’m a genius when I do it, but now they will probably call me a clown. That’s how I feel right now,” he admitted.

His frustration was clear as he discussed the 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 loss. “I think it was the stress, the tension of the match, the excitement, that’s why I did what I did. It was in a very tight game, I think that’s why I played that shot. It’s hard to make the decision, even if people might think it’s stupid, right now it seems stupid even to me, I don’t know what to say. It was an important point, it would have been smarter to finish with a volley, so I can’t replay it. If I had to play it again, I would definitely do something else,” he added.

Moutet knew he would face criticism. Still, he tried to remain calm and accept responsibility. “It’s very easy to criticize when things go wrong, just as it is easy to say it’s a fantastic shot when it goes well. Right now, I will try not to be too hard on myself, but I am aware of what happened, I also need to try to be honest with myself. In the future, I will try to make much better decisions than today,” he said.

While France struggled, Belgium celebrated a major achievement. On the other side of the tie, Zizou Bergs expressed his raw feelings after helping his team reach the semifinals of the World Cup of tennis. His win over Arthur Rinderknech completed a memorable day for Belgium.

Zizou Bergs reflects emotionally on Belgium’s historic Davis Cup achievement

Belgium reached the Final 8 after a 3-2 win in Australia during September’s Qualifier. Now, they have eliminated a 2nd Grand Slam nation. The victory is even more special because Belgium had lost four straight ties to France, including the 2017 final. Ending that streak made this win feel even more rewarding for the entire team and their fans in home.

Even after the match, Zizou Bergs was full of joy. He celebrated with a special handshake and a chest bump with Captain Steve Darcis. Later, he shared his emotions openly. “Yeah, how do I describe it? It’s pretty weird, like something was bogging my head,” he said after the match. “I don’t really know what happened. Just a few points, but I’ll probably re-watch it and be very proud of what I did, but also what Raphael did in the match before. For me, it just gives this extra push and this extra tranquillity to go out there and enjoy myself. So this one is a big credit to the team again.”

Bergs also expressed pride in the group and explained the mindset that keeps them united. “It’s just such a help. If he wins, there is a huge opportunity. It’s not about, ‘If I don’t win this, we’re going to fail.’ No, if I don’t win this, we’re just going to get another chance. So it’s a little different mindset. Yeah, that’s just great to have this as a team, to see that as a team we’re growing and becoming better tennis players every year. I’m really proud of us, and hopefully we can continue this path.”

With France now out of the tournament, attention shifts to the remaining quarterfinals. Germany will face Argentina in one tie. Spain will meet the Czech Republic in the other. Both matchups promise close battles.

It will be interesting to see which two nations join Belgium in the semifinals.