Mathieu Montcourt Dead Aged 24

PARIS — French tennis player Mathieu Montcourt, who was recently banned for betting on matches, has died. He was 24. The French tennis federation said Tuesday that Montcourt died overnight but the cause of death is not yet known, and an autopsy will be conducted.

French media reported the 119th-ranked Montcourt was found dead by his girlfriend in the stairwell of his Paris apartment. In May, Montcourt was handed a five-week ban and fined $12,000 for betting on other matches. That ban took effect Monday.

"It is with great sadness that the French tennis federation has learned of the sudden death of Mathieu Montcourt," the French tennis federation said. "Mathieu was an enthusiastic young man, passionate, very endearing, and extremely appreciated for his kindness and politeness."

Four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal grew up playing against Montcourt on the junior circuit.

"This morning I woke up with one of the worst news anyone can receive," Nadal said on his Web site. "I heard about the death of our friend Mathieu Montcourt. I am still under shock for this. I can't believe it."

French tennis federation's technical director Patrice Dominguez told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Montcourt's girlfriend became alarmed when Montcourt failed to arrive.

"She was with a friend in Mathieu Montcourt's apartment," Dominguez said. "They came out after a while, having left him messages, and noticed that he was lying on the floor next to his bike ... They called the (ambulance), but unfortunately he was already dead."

Montcourt complained during the French Open that the punishment was too harsh, saying that he never bet more than $3 at any time, and never on his own matches _ a fact confirmed by the ATP, which oversees the men's Tour.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Montcourt had wagered a total of $192 on 36 tennis events in 2005. It reduced his suspension on appeal from eight weeks to five.

A moment of silence was planned before the first match Tuesday at The Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I.

"It's really sad. I practiced with him for the first time at Roland Garros," said Fabrice Santoro, the two-time Newport defending champion.

ATP board member Justin Gimelstob said, "The tennis community is a tight group and to lose one of our players at such a young age is really difficult for everyone."

The issue of betting in tennis drew increased attention from the sport's governing bodies after an online bookmaker voided all wagers on a 2007 match involving Nikolay Davydenko. About $7 million was bet _ 10 times the usual amount for a similar-level match _ and most of the money backed Davydenko's lower-ranked opponent.

Davydenko was cleared in September after a yearlong investigation.

___

Freelance writer Ken Powtak contributed to this report from Newport, R.I.

Comments

[baxtron]

05:23 PM on 07/09/2009

gambling can get very expensive very quickly. the people you hang around with don't care if you live or die. make sure you keep winning.

[Provit2me]

02:22 PM on 07/09/2009

24. What a shame. Bless his family in this time of grief. So, sad.

[deevee]

12:07 PM on 07/08/2009

"wagered a total of $192 on 36 tennis events" -- ?????? makes this story even sadder

[lecraftygirl]

10:14 AM on 07/08/2009

rest in peace.

[Gasparilla]

10:08 AM on 07/08/2009

No gambling means no gambling. And the fact is that gambling and drug/alcoh­ol abuse frequently go hand in hand. He actually got a light punishment­. He sounds like the kind of person unable to grow up and take responsibi­lity. And please don't tell me to have some respect. It's sad, but wishing him rest in peace is pointless. The more important thing is take control of your life.

[pangursperson]

11:09 AM on 07/08/2009

I see someone has decided to cast the first stone.

[Gasparilla]

11:49 AM on 07/08/2009

I am not an addict or a gambler. Or a Puritan either. I think more important than expressing Hallmark sentiments about someone neither you nor I know is to point out that irresponsi­ble behavior has consequenc­es. Sports is littered with the careers of those who were unable to control their behavior. It's sad, as I said, but you can't tell me you're even going to be thinking about this an hour from now. I'm sure his family wishes he had turned his behavior around.

[richinkle]

02:40 PM on 07/08/2009

You said it. This is a tragedy, plain and simple. Let's show some respect and withhold our judgment.

[R3dhead]

08:47 AM on 07/08/2009

I am not of the tennis world don't even know this Montcourt guy but it is sad to see a young man, talented and nice by all account, died at a very young age, in a stairwell no less.

When I first read it, I felt my heart break. It must've been so lonely and painful to die like that, alone and with no one to tell you you've done alright. RIP, monsieur.

[ramal]

08:50 PM on 07/07/2009

Live everyday as if it were your last, for one day you are sure to be right.

[EvangelicalEmpathy]

06:49 PM on 07/07/2009

Very sorry to hear this. Way to young to die. My heart goes out his family and friends.

[Forester]

05:56 PM on 07/07/2009

RIP Mathieu.
Way too young.

[paulita]

05:50 PM on 07/07/2009

I join in the chorus wishing him eternal rest.

I hope his family finds comfort.

[losangelesgirl]

03:34 PM on 07/07/2009

It is shocking to hear that such a young and what should-be healthy athlete died suddenly. I am anxious to hear the autopsy results. It is scary to think that such an inexplicab­le case can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. What is with this trend of people in the spotlight passing away so suddenly? What an unfortunat­e series of events...

[Joike]

03:25 PM on 07/07/2009

It is sad that such a young player died, but his recent fine and suspension is not out of line. $12,000 and 5 weeks is reasonable when dealing with an issue like gambling.

Gambling by its participan­ts is one of the biggest threats to the health and popularity of any sport even if the player isn't involved in the match himself. Look at the recent embarrassm­ent the NBA suffered when one of its referees was found to be involved with gambling on basketball­.

Gambling on your own sport displays a failure of common sense. It doesn't matter if it is only for a few dollars. If he felt compelled to gamble, he should have sought help or at least just bet on horses.

[davidwayneosedach]

02:08 PM on 07/07/2009

Why does a healthy 24 year old athelete die? Why?

[Javida]

03:57 PM on 07/08/2009

Unknown congenital heart ailment, congestive heart failure, heat stroke any number of conditions­.

[Levittown]

02:08 PM on 07/07/2009

I cannot believe that a suspension was issued for so minor a violation. His unfortunat­e death will open the floodgates as to the power of any sport to be so out of touch with reality. Let the punishment fit the crime, except in France.

[chicagomike]

08:11 AM on 07/08/2009

Why have rules against gambling with prescribed penalties if you are not going to enforce them? And your gratuitous slap at France is completely dumb, given some of America's very tough penalties for crimes some might think not so awful. Not to mention how American justice is tilted against the poor and skewed in favor of the rich.

[BubbaNH]

01:51 PM on 07/07/2009

RIP