A public spat has erupted between erratic French tennis talent Corentin Moutet and former Australian Open antagonist Danielle Collins, ignited by a rather unusual claim made by the American during a television commentary segment.
Collins, now a commentator for the Tennis Channel, featured Moutet in a segment titled “Storytime with Danielle.” The first instalment of this series, which reportedly began with a tale about her dog’s bathroom habits in a locker room, took a sharp turn when Collins alleged that Moutet had been flirting with her during the Miami Open.
According to co-host Steve Weissman, Collins claimed Moutet was “cat-calling” her while she was on air, near the practice court where the world number 33 was honing his skills. Collins then recounted her supposed retort to Moutet: “If you’re gonna be flirting with me like that you’re gonna have to get a bigger serve.” This statement was met with what has been described as awkward silence from her fellow commentators.
Collins elaborated on her theory, suggesting that success in tennis wasn’t solely about physical attributes like height or personality, but rather hinged on “big forehands and big serves.”
The controversy escalated when Collins, who previously drew the ire of Melbourne Park crowds at the 2025 Australian Open for her on-court demeanour, asserted that Moutet had contacted her after her dating profile garnered attention late last year. The 32-year-old’s bio on a dating site had, at the time, stated her aspiration to be a “trad wife” following her “boss babe era.” Her stated goals included raising chickens, engaging in home projects, baking sourdough, being a devoted dog mum, and “hopefully pop out some babies soon.” The profile notably included the blunt statement: “If you’re going to lie about your height, just leave me the f*** alone. This is a no short kings zone.”
Collins claimed on air that Moutet had subsequently unfollowed her after she declared her disinterest in “short kings.” She further alleged that he had messaged her, only to then unfollow her, implying he was “upset about that.”
Adding another layer to the narrative, Collins stated that Moutet had “slid back into the DMs last night” to inquire if she had witnessed the “big serves that he was hitting” during his recent 6-0, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Tomáš Macháč in the second round of a tournament.
Moutet, however, was quick to refute Collins’s account. He responded to a video of the segment on social media with a pointed denial, stating, “How can I unfollow you when I never followed you.” He also directly challenged the Tennis Channel, questioning their editorial judgment.
Moutet’s Rebuttal and Accusations
Moutet’s public response was sharp and detailed, directly addressing Collins and the platform broadcasting her claims:
- “How can you let someone say BS like this on tv,” he wrote, expressing disbelief at the content aired.
- He directly challenged Collins’s assertion of him following her, stating, “You [Collins] followed me. You asked me for mixed [doubles]. And I’ve never even followed you.”
- Moutet accused Collins of seeking attention, saying, “You (sic) ready to say anything so people talks about you.”
- He concluded his public statement with advice, suggesting, “You should learn how to love yourself so you won’t have to do stupid things for [people’s love].”
Following Moutet’s emphatic denial, a community note was reportedly added to the original Tennis Channel video, clarifying that Moutet had indeed refuted Collins’s claims.
The “Storytime” Segment’s Reception
After Collins concluded her anecdote, co-host Steve Weissman acknowledged the polarizing nature of the segment, remarking, “Some people hate it, some people love it, but you care and that’s really all that matters.” This suggests a deliberate strategy by the network to generate engagement, regardless of the content’s factual accuracy or appropriateness.
Collins’s Personal Journey
The public exchange also brings to light some of Danielle Collins’s personal circumstances. She had initially announced her retirement from professional tennis in early 2024, intending to focus on starting a family. This period was followed by what she described as the “best year of her career.” However, she later reversed her decision and returned to the tour after experiencing fertility struggles and receiving an endometriosis diagnosis.
Currently, Collins is sidelined for the initial part of the 2026 season due to a back injury and is undergoing egg freezing procedures. She shared her experience on Instagram in December, calling it “one of the coolest things I’ve ever done,” while also candidly admitting the difficulty of the hormonal treatments, describing them as “a real b****.”
