After a first title won in Basel last week, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard qualified for the 2nd round of the Masters 1000 in Paris, which he will play this Wednesday.
On this surface, the world number 31 will be able to count on his serve to overcome the Russian Karen Khachanov.
Footballer father, friendship with Arthur Fils or admiration for Rafael Nadal, here are five things to know about Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, new sensation in French tennis.
When Richard Gasquet prepares to bow out, the next generation takes center stage. In recent days, it is Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard who has revealed himself to the general public, by winning his first ATP 500 tournament in Basel (Switzerland) on Sunday October 21, 5 months after his first victory in the ATP 250 in Lyon, his home ground. native. Will Paris, where the last Master 1000 of the season is taking place this week, be its new Eldorado? While waiting for the answer, TF1info invites you to get to know the 21-year-old French player, today ranked 31st in the world in the ATP rankings.
The best service on the circuit
His opponents and the statistics agree: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has the best serve on the circuit. With his extraordinary size – 2.03 m and more than 100 kilos – the tennis player has no problem serving at more than 230 km/h. To the tool set up by the ATP to measure the quality of players’ service, taking into account the rate of first serves, the number of points won behind the first serve, those won behind the second serve and break points saved, he gets the best score. In addition to serving at astronomical speeds, the Frenchman serves on average 18.6 aces per match, the best statistic on the circuit. An infallible weapon that allows him to win 90% of his service games. However, “I know that I am much more than a waiter”he assured Tuesday at a press conference.
He “takes responsibility” for having a game that does not necessarily please the public
Much more than a server, but not really considered a racquet virtuoso. You should not come to see the Frenchman play hoping to witness endless rallies and exchanges of more than 10 shots. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard knows it and accepts it. He even chose to develop this style of play under the leadership of his coach Emmanuel Planque. Does he enjoy developing such a game? “Yes, because I earn points. Does the public want it? Yes and no. Yes because they see services going at 240 km/h and they say to themselves ‘their service goes faster faster than my car’. And on the other hand, no because there aren’t many exchanges.”he declared Tuesday in Paris at a press conference. “We don’t want to have everything. I would like to play like Jannik Sinner or like Carlos Alcaraz (world numbers 1 and 2, editor’s note), hit several balls, I like to make exchanges”he conceded. “But with my weight, my height, it’s difficult to move for a long time. It’s something that I have to accept because I’m different from others.”
He is a fan of Rafael Nadal
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 21, grew up with Rafael Nadal. And even today, it is the Spaniard who is preferred by the French player. After winning in Basel a week ago, on Roger Federer’s land, the Lyon tennis player, asked about his relationship with the Swiss player, replied: “Yeah, I was inspired by Roger Federer who won this tournament ten times, but I was sad when Nadal lost to him in 2015. So, I mean, yeah, I like Roger, but I prefer Rafa. “ A player who doesn’t really have the same style of play. “Between the representation he had of himself and the demands at the highest level and what he encounters, (…) he is starting to understand that we will have to make Rafa Nadal and his style of play an old dream”laughs Giovanni’s trainer.
A great friendship with Arthur Fils
Ugo Humbert, Arthur Fils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, they are three French people in the top 40 in world tennis. And the last two, respectively 20ᵉ and 31ᵉ, are linked by a beautiful friendship. It started when they were around ten years old and attending the Poitiers training center. “I grew up with him, since Poitiers, I have been with him, we were on the circuit at the same time, we played everything together, we get along almost like brothers”said Arthur Fils on the sidelines of the last Wimbledon. “This relationship is strong, we did a lot of work together, we competed against each other a lot, we helped each other when we trained together”confirmed his friend. Together, the two men won the junior doubles at Roland-Garros in 2021.
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His father was a footballer
Giovanni took up tennis while accompanying his father to the Caluire-et-Cuire club, in the Lyon suburbs. He did not follow in his footsteps, a former professional footballer. Ghislain Mpetshi played a season in defense at FC Bourg-Péronnas the year they rose to the National level, he also wore the colors of Stade Beaucairois or ASOA Valence. Today, his son is not the only one to have chosen tennis. His daughter Daphnée Mpetshi Perricard, 15, is also a great hope in French tennis.
