In Brisbane, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard aims for a third success on the ATP circuit

Australian air succeeds for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 21 years old and 31^e world, who has been shining at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane since the start of the week. After his convincing successes against the Australian Nick Kyrgios, the American Frances Tiafoe and the Czech Jakub Mensik, the Frenchman must face, Saturday November 4 from 11:30 a.m., the American Reilly Opelka for a place in the final of this ATP 250 tournament.

After his first victories in 2024, in Lyon (ATP 250) in May, then in Basel (ATP 500) in October, the protégé of Emmanuel Planque, who was Lucas Pouille's coach between 2012 and 2018, is aiming for a third victory in tournaments on the men's circuit.

To do this, he must eliminate a player ranked 293 in the semi-finals.^e at the ATP, but who had reached 17^e world place in 2022 before undergoing three surgeries, including one on the hip to remove a benign tumor. Friday January 3, the Michigan native dominated Novak Djokovic to everyone's surprise. A big server, Opelka made 16 aces to win in two sets (7-6 (8/6), 6-3). In the other semi-final, the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (10^e) will be opposed to the Czech Jiri Lehecka (28^e).

A few days before the start of the Australian Open (January 12 to 26), Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, nicknamed “GMP” by his supporters, is the favorite in a duel which will be contested at high altitude. If Brisbane is close to sea level, the two players are among the greatest on the circuit. The American stands at 2.11 meters, eight centimeters taller than the Frenchman.

Mental stainless

Renowned for his mental qualities – he is capable of serving at 240 km/h on the second ball in a tie-break – Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has been gaining momentum for several months. His commitment is a weapon that scares his adversaries. “I almost killed myself trying to restart your services”American Ben Shelton joked on this subject in October, after seeing 22 aces parade before his eyes during their final in Basel.

In Brisbane, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has still not conceded a single break point since the start of the tournament (in 40 service games). Solid at the back of the court, the Frenchman also has an unusual touch on the ball for a player of such size. He also has the distinction of being one of the last players in the Top 100 to use the one-handed backhand.

In the quarter-finals in Brisbane, the Lyonnais beat the young Czech Jakub Mensik (19 years old, 48^e world) in two sets 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), making 19 aces for two double faults. In three matches, he has already landed 75 of these winning serves which are as many club blows. Consistent on the second serve, the Frenchman converted one of the two break points he obtained.

In the previous round, Mpetshi Perricard was even more expeditious against the American Frances Tiafoe, semi-finalist of the last US Open. On the other hand, he had to battle two and a half hours to overcome the Australian Nick Kyrgios, Wimbledon finalist in 2022, returning to the circuit after a year and a half of absence due to wrist surgery. . In this match between big servers, “GMP” won in three sets and as many tie-breaks. “This guy is going to be a problem for a long time”predicted Kyrgios after his defeat against the young Frenchman.

Seventeen years after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's Australian epic, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will approach the Melbourne tournament with legitimate ambitions. In 2008, then aged 22, the Manceau revealed himself to the general public by crushing Nadal in the semi-finals (6-2, 6-3, 6-2) before coming up against Novak Djokovic (4-6, 6 -4, 6-3, 7-6 [2]). The Serb thus won the first Grand Slam of his career.

Before entering Melbourne, Tsonga was only 38^e global. Mpetshi Perricard is 31^e worldwide and number three in France. After starting 2024 at 205^e world place, the Lyonnais, who was 50^e world on October 20, jumped around twenty places in the rankings in a few months. He will be seeded in the first Grand Slam of the year, which ensures that he will be protected in the draw, just like his compatriots Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils.