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Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard Emerging Superstar
4 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was ranked 205 to start the year and now he’s ranked 31 after winning his first ATP 500 title in Basel. The 21 year old, six-foot-eight tennis wrecking machine beat Ben Shelton in the final yesterday 64 76. He didn’t lose serve all week.
I first heard of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard three years ago when he reached the French Open boys doubles finals with Arthur Fils. Then two years ago at Sarasota Open a French physio from IMG said he’s one of France’s best young prospects.
Giovanni won his first ATP title earlier this year in his hometown Lyon by saving a match point in the final vs Echeverry. He also beat Korda in five sets in the first round at Wimbledon and reached the fourth round, as a lucky loser, the first LL to reach 4R at Wimbledon since Dick Norman in 1995.
Entering Basel, Giovanni was 2-9 in his previous 11 matches. In Basel he beat Duckworth, Felix, Shap 76 in the third, Rune and Shelton.
He is coached by Emmanuel Planque, the recognizable long haired French coach who previously coached Moutet, Pouille, and others. I met Planque at Tallahassee Open years ago when he was with Moutet and he told me he read www.tennis-prose.com for an hour after I gave him a card.
Perricard is not your conventional player. He has a one-handed backhand and he decided to do boxing training just days before the start of the 2024 US Open at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, NY. Only a freethinking original would try that. Perricard trained with Leon Moore, who was once ranked no. 3 in the world in the featherweight division.
The dividends from boxing training did not pay off instantly though. Perricard lost first round at US Open to Echeverry 46 26 36.
With his first two ATP titles won this year and also two Challenger titles on in Mexico in April, Perricard, the son of a former semi pro soccer player, is exploding into an elite potential superstar with one of the biggest weapons in the ATP.
Basel · France · Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard · Nike
Steve · October 28, 2024 at 7:50 pm
The French system apparently allows players to maintain their identity and individual playing styles as they progress. Great to see a one hander in the younger generation.
Mannarino, the king of angles, got a great win today over Tommy Paul in Paris.
Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2024 at 9:39 pm
Steve, Yes suddenly Mannarino is winning matches again after a horrid slump for months. He had lost his only previous match to Paul two years ago at Wimbledon in three easy sets. Big win today for Mannarino. Perricard has the best serve in tennis, his ace ratio per match is the best, ahead of Hurkacz and Bublik. In a couple of years Perricard could be a major problem for everyone and if he keeps improving at this pace, a threat for no. 1.
Cory · October 29, 2024 at 6:02 am
Perricardis not a total serve-bot either, he can hang during rallies. His second-serve racked up quite a few points in Basel. Worth the gamble since he’s probably the underdog in most rallies. Was really impressed with him. Saw him live at US Open Q3 vs. Monteiro. He was crushing anything left short. Crowd was going nuts.
Mannarino was a 5-to-1 underdog yesterday. A good punt considering Paul is unreliable IMO.
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2024 at 8:24 am
bas loss for Paul who is aiming for top ten and finals. I saw highlights and it looked like Mannarino just got on fire, was in the zone, totally inspired by being in Paris maybe the last time. perricard is one to keep an eye on. fils is also charging up to the top, ATP no. 20 now.