By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, February 11, 2024
When Corentin Moutet felt an out of body experience, he pounded Pepsi in a thirst for revival.
In a wild Buenos Aires qualifying match, Moutet feuded with fans, called for the trainer and ordered up a bottle of Pepsi, which was delivered to him.
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It all went down during Moutet's 7-5, 2-6, 2-6 Argentina Open loss to Argentinean Mariano Navone on Saturday.
At one point, Moutet called for the trainer only to call off the request upon his arrival.
On a hot day in Buenos Aires, Moutet felt he needed a spark.
When the Pepsi was delivered, a smiling Moutet proudly held the bottle aloft to cheers from the fans. Then he cracked open the Pepsi and guzzled it.
The soda could not restore the fizz to Moutet's shots or add life to his legs.
Reflecting on the match today, Moutet said pounding Pepsi, which he said he's given up recently, was his effort to try to recharge his body and game.
"Thought I was ready to compete but my body left me at 7/5 2/1," Moutet posted on Twitter/X. "Tried everything to fight until the end but wasn’t enough.
"(Even tried pepsi 😂thing that I didn’t drink since a year maybe 😂) Still in the process to come back 100% It takes time But I practice good so my time will come for sure."
Fizzy drinks are Frenchmen's friends.
Gael Monfils chugged several cans of Coca-Cola during his 2013 Australian Open match vs. Gilles Simon.
Sliderman was drinking cans of Coke during his classic five-set loss to Roger Federer at the 2014 US Open too.
"Sometimes, I just want a Coke," Monfils said after that match.
Devoted fans will recall a severely jet-lagged Serena Williams ordering an Espresso during a changeover in her Hopman Cup match to put some pep in her step.
"I'm tired," a laughing Serena told opponent Flavia Pennetta after making her Espresso order, which was granted.
Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty