On a cloud. For ten days, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has never stopped winning and surprising. Two days after his first ATP 500 title in Basel, the 21-year-old Frenchman scored another prestigious victory this Tuesday in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters against Frances Tiafoe (6-7, 7-6, 6-3 ).
A success which proves once again that the 31st player in the world has the nerves strong enough for the very high level.
The Lyonnais, however, was almost betrayed by his best friend: his service. A true ace machine with his 2.03 m, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard struggled to adjust the sights. So of course, he gave himself 28 free points thanks to his first ball, but he also committed 13 double faults. Too much to beat Frances Tiafoe? No way. Solid in the tie-break of the second set, the Frenchman overthrew the American to win in three sets.
The first tie-break was much trickier. Obviously very tense, the Lyonnais had lost a first point on his throw-in, before committing a guilty double fault at the worst moment (5-7). Problem solved in the second set, with an ace on second serve to conclude.
The decisive round was particularly tense. The American was the first to obtain two break points, without success. In the sixth game, put under pressure for the first time, the world number 17 completely broke down, sending a rather simple volley into the net. Faced with a server of the caliber of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, it was one mistake too many. Three games later, the Frenchman concluded his great victory, his first in the main draw of the Rolex Paris Masters.
