French daily L’Équipe reports that world #119 Mathieu Montcourt has passed away at the age of 24.

(Google Translation):

The French tennis player Mathieu Montcourt died last night. He was 24 years old. The information was confirmed by Patrice Dominguez, the National Technical Director. But the causes of death are not yet known. Source police Montcourt was found dead by his girlfriend at the door of their apartment in Boulogne-Billancourt. The French Federation has announced that it will issue a communiqué in the day.

UPDATED

AP/Yahoo broke the story later in the day. The French tennis federation released a 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.”

No new details, but the entire piece is here.

Rafa posted a message on his website:

MON AMI MATHIEU MONTCOURT

Manacor, Spain – July 7th 2009

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.
Rafa Nadal

You can feel Rafa’s shock through that message.

The rumours say cause of death was pulmonary embolism.

Mathieu Montcourt’s ATP profile.
Source
Original Source

R.I.P, Monsieur Montcourt.

wow. that’s really, really tragic. he was only twenty four. the past two months i spent in a funk over tennis?  yeah, perspective’s kicked in. god, how completely awful for his friends and family-and especially terrible for his poor girlfriend. that’s just unfair. thoughts going out to his loved ones. x