This Tuesday morning, Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard was the big opponent for Nick Kyrgios' return to the courts. As expected, the two men engaged in a battle of service and tie-breaks. This was won by the Frenchman after a fight without really any rhythm.
In almost 2h30 of play, the 31st player in the world won 7-6 [2]6-7 [4]7-6 [3] and released the Australian in front of an ultimately disappointed audience. The quality of service of the young 21-year-old player made the difference in this match: he scored 36 aces (15 for Kyrgios), and won 89% of the points behind his first ball. In the two decisive games he won, the Frenchie was perfect and pulled out all the stops.
Mpetshi Perricard will face American Frances Tiafoe, seeded No. 4 in the second round of the Queensland tournament.
The other posters from the first round in Brisbane (ATP 250, Queensland Tennis Centre, hard, USD 766,290, results displayed from newest to oldest):
- Novak Djokovic – Rinky Hijikata : program mardi
- Nishesh Basavareddy – Gael Monfils : Scheduled Tuesday
- Dusan Lajovic (LL) – Arthur Cazaux : 6-4, 6-4
- Jakub Mensik – Mikhail Kukushkin (Q) : 7-6 [3]6-4
- Frances Tiafoe – Adam Walton (WC) : 7-6 [5]6-3
- Matteo Arnaldi – Alexei Popyrin (N.7): 6-3, 6-2
- Reilly Opelka – Federico Agustin Gomez (Q) : 7-5, 6-4
- Jiri Lehecka – Holger Rune (N.3) : 7-5, 6-3
- Grigor Dimitrov (N.2) – Yannick Hanfmann (Q) : 7-6 [5]6-3
- Nicolas Jarry – Mariano Navone: 7-5, 7-6 [7]
- Jordan Thompson (N.8) – Matteo Berrettini: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
- Yoshihito Nishioka (Q) – Arthur Rinderknech : 6-3, 6-4
- Alex Michelsen – Christopher O’Connell : 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 [10]
- Benjamin Bonzi (Q) – Alejandro Tabilo (N.6) : 6-7 [8]7-6 [5]6-4
- Aleksandar Vukic (WC) – David Goffin: 6-2, 6-3
