Monfils-Mpetshi Perricard, the derby that fascinates Frenchies

Showing 100% Blues in the first round of the Australian Open, the duel between the veteran Gaël Monfils and the French revelation of the year 2024 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard scheduled for the night of Monday to Tuesday excites the French contingent in Melbourne, at start with the two protagonists.

“It’s going to be cool, it’s always fun. I have played millions of them, Grand Slam matches. Against friends, that’s one more”rejoiced Sunday at the Monfils press conference, before the first confrontation between the two players, which will take place on Court N.3 after a single in the women’s tournament scheduled for 1:00 a.m. (Paris time).

In 2025, the Parisian continues to defy time. On Saturday, he won the 13th title of his career in Auckland (New Zealand), becoming at 38 years and four months the oldest winner on the main circuit since 1977.

“It’s almost inhumane, I think, it’s crazy. He’s 38 years old, he still does splits to the right, splits to the left, jump smash here…”commented Arthur Fils (21st in the world) on Sunday, seeing his eldest, back in the Top 50, “stay on the circuit for a long time, if the head is willing”.

Asked in Melbourne about the secret to his longevity, Monfils provided a disarmingly simple answer. “I work, that’s just it”he said, greeting the « super job » from his physical trainer.

If Monfils arrives in good shape, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is not left out. The 30th in the world with a powerful serve won the first two titles of his career in 2024 (including an ATP 500 in Basel) and has just played a semi-final at the start of the year in Brisbane. The two players also traveled side by side to Australia.

“For 14 hours, we talked”told « Gio » before his first round against “The Monf”. “He told me, ‘I’ve had a 21-year career, you’re 21.’ That’s when we quickly understood the gap between the two of us”underlined Mpetshi Perricard.

A generation apart

“It’s a bit of a shame to play him in the first round. He’s someone I really appreciate and I would have liked us to go as far as possible.”added the Lyonnais, who did not manage to get out of qualifying for his first major in Melbourne last year.

For Monfils, who is playing his 19th Australian Open, the expectations are not the same. “If I can win a match like I managed to do last year that’s cool, if I don’t win it that’s cool too, I’m going back to training. »

In any case, Mpetshi Perricard and Arthur Fils (20 years old) hope to continue to benefit from the advice of the one who was semi-finalist at Roland-Garros (2008) and at the US Open (2016).

“Frankly, it’s cool to be close with someone who has experienced so much on the circuit, who has won some very good matches, who has done exceptional things”commented « Gio »notably marked by Monfils’ victory against Roger Federer in the 2014 Davis Cup final.

“This one was violent. He made millions of young people dream and I was one of them”remembered the 30th in the world.

“Best friend” against “old favorite”

“He has some crazy experience and he helps us, so it’s really cool”adds Fils.

“Of course I will come (to see the match)”he added. “I have my best friend, my brother, who is going to play against our old favorite on the circuit”.

For Lucas Pouille (103rd), who is careful not to designate a favorite, the 100% French duel promises to be ” interesting “.

“For Giovanni, (Monfils) is a player who is annoying because he returns very well, he returns a lot. And above all, it has quite enormous ground coverage”he detailed.

“It may be a passing of the torch, but my Gaël, he’s not going to let it happen either”anticipated Fils, also one round away from a possible Franco-French clash against the French N.1 Ugo Humbert (14th).