Hot-headed tennis star Corentin Moutet given THREE code violations and throws his racquet in Queen's meltdown versus victorious Brit Jacob Fearnley

The hottest day of the year brought a Corentin Moutet meltdown at Queen’s Club, the maverick Frenchman calling the umpire ‘crazy’ during a last-16 defeat by British No2 Jacob Fearnley.

Moutet was relatively calm by his standards across the first two sets but when he was broken early in the deciding set the screw began to come loose. The 26-year-old had been given a code violation for slow play in that game and when Fearnley broke, Moutet blasted a ball into the Queen’s crowd, earning a second violation.

Serving to stay in the match at 5-1 down he was given a third time violation, triggering the docking of a first serve. ‘Get on with it,’ said a voice from the crowd and when Moutet complained to umpire Adel Nour at the sledging, another fan told him to ‘shut up’.

After eventually holding Moutet let Egyptian umpire Adel Nour have it.

‘Saying time violations is like your only job,’ he began. ‘You’re talking to me four changeovers in a row, then you give me a time violation and say, “Don’t talk to me”. What’s wrong with you?

‘I am running every day for three hours and you are telling me what I have to do. Ten seconds with three balls in my hand. What am I supposed to do? It happens every point. I explain it to you and you give me a time violation without listening to me. Oh my god! This guy's crazy. Killing me. You're killing me every day.’

Corentin Moutet was at his fiery best during his sweltering hot clash with Jacob Fearnley

The combustible Frenchman at one point smashed a ball into the stands, earning himself a code violation

Moutet then threw his racquet on the grass of the Andy Murray Arena at The Queen's Club

It was not easy to follow the exact thread of Moutet’s thoughts - it rarely is - but the gist was pretty clear. John Lloyd on BBC commentary summed things up by saying: ‘He’s lost it. “This guy’s crazy” - look in the mirror!’

At the end of the match Moutet flung his racket across the court, then sent his cap chasing after it.

Amid all the mayhem, Fearnley stayed as cool as it was possible to be on a 30oC day - the hottest of the year - and this 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 victory takes him into the last eight for the first time at Tour level.

‘I'm very happy to be in my first quarter-final,’ said the 23-year-old Scot. ‘It's even better to do it here in the UK. It's really special for me. I've dreamed of these moments since I was a young boy. To do it here in front of this crowd and on this court is unbelievable.

‘I tried to stick to my game plan and be aggressive. I did that better in the third set and the result speaks for itself.

‘It's really special to have everyone here and watch me play on this stage.’

The British was dressed like Gary Player and diving like Boris Becker.

Like the great South African golfer, he was all in black - madness given the heat - and he broke for a 4-1 lead in the deciding set with a diving volley of which the German legend would have been proud.

Fearnley managed to keep his cool and extend his eye-popping record over French opponents

It was all smiles at the end of the match between the two players as Fearnley progressed to the quarter-finals

Moutet took a couple of tumbles himself, of a more slapstick variety. His antics can be way beyond the pale - he has behaved far worse than this - but he is such fun to watch, with his twirling drop shots and chip-and-charge net rushes, it is difficult to judge him more harshly than as a loveable rogue.

Fearnley was holding him at bay with his usual measured aggression before a horror service game at the start of the second set. He served three double faults to go 2-0 down and Moutet ran away with the set.

The Scot regained his momentum in the decider and the only question now was whether the sideshow at the other end of the court would distract him. But Fearnley maintained his sangfroid and he and Jack Draper are one win apiece away from setting up an all-Brit semi-final, a first meeting since their days as junior friends and rivals. In Friday's quarters, Fearnley plays Czech Jiri Lehecka and Draper faces American Brandon Nakashima.

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