At 23, Moutet, second tricolor to qualify after Grégoire Barrère the day before, passes the first round of the Parisian Grand Slam for the first time since 2019 when he failed at the gates of the eighth.
"It's nice to enjoy playing in France in front of a lot of people", appreciated the Parisian pushed by the public of the Suzanne-Lenglen court.
"It was difficult the last two years."
He will need all the support possible from the stands in the next round since he will face him Rafael Nadal, titled 13 times Porte d'Auteuil, 21 times in Grand Slam, two absolute records.
The Mallorcan left only crumbs in the mustache of Australian Jordan Thomson (6-2, 6-2, 6-2).
Wawrinka operated twice on the left foot last year, shook the Frenchman with his striking power (12 aces).
"At first it was complicated, admitted Moutet. I was getting a little into it because he is quite powerful."
Winning the tie break in the second set was one of the keys to the match according to him: "These kind of players when they race in front, they are difficult to catch."
The Swiss veteran, 37, who signed his first victory in 455 days in Rome earlier this month, then had too much waste (51 unforced errors in total) to dominate Moutet.
© 2022 AFP