Banned Tennis Player Montcourt Dies at 24

Mathieu Montcourt was banned from tennis after it was learned that he was betting on matches.  If that wasn’t sad or bad enough, Montcourt was found dead by his girlfriend in the stairwell of his Paris apartment.  It looks like he died overnight but they won’t know the cause of death until they perform an autopsy.

image: Newscom

The French Tennis Federation confirmed the reports and issued the following statement: “it is with great sadness that the French tennis federation has learned of the sudden death of Mathieu Montcourt.  Mathieu was an enthusiastic young man, passionate, very endearing, and extremely appreciated for his kindness and politeness.”

The French player grew up playing against superstar (and fellow countryman), Rafael Nadal, who was taken aback by this tragic news.  On his website, Nadal wrote:  “This morning I woke up with one of the worst news anyone can receive.  I heard about the death of our friend Mathieu Montcourt. I am still under shock for this. I can’t believe it.  I knew Mathieu since we were kids. We competed together at all the events at an international level there is since you are a kid: Les Petit As, Copa Borotta, etc. and of course afterwards once becoming professionals.  When someone like this disappears, when something like this happens, you really know where we are and the relativeness of winning or losing a tennis match, of not competing at an event or anything else. This is the loss of a guy who was only 24 and that was sports person. He won’t be playing with us again.  I would like to send my most deep and sincere condolences to his family, to his friends and to the French fans. Mathieu, Rest in peace.”

It’s a very sad day for the world of tennis.  My condolences go out to the Montcourt family.