When asked about the finest server on the Tour, world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz had no doubts! He placed a safe bet and marked his coeval Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard as the owner of the most lethal initial shot in men’s tennis. The Lyon native established himself as the third-strongest link in the 2003 chain behind Alcaraz and Holger Rune. Carlos and Giovanni battled in Beijing a month ago, and the Spaniard managed to tame the rival’s serve in two games and deliver crucial breaks. However, the conditions were slower than in these weeks, and the Frenchman has been using his incredible initial shot with both hands in indoor conditions.
He clinched his first ATP 500 title in Basel last week and made a fine start at the home Paris Masters. Giovanni is utilizing every inch of his 203 centimeters, clocking speeds above 240 km/h and turning his initial shot into one of the most fearsome weapons in tennis history at 21! Mpetshi Perricard has embraced mind-blowing 80 consecutive holds since Antwerp, lifting the trophy in Basel and chasing another in front of the home fans in Paris.
Carlos Alcaraz & Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Biejing 2024© Stream screenshot
Mpetshi Perricard’s Wimbledon surge
Giovanni almost wrote history books at Wimbledon, standing a win away from becoming the first lucky loser in a Major quarter-final! The young gun fired 181 aces in six encounters (two best-of-three), including 51 against Sebastian Korda in the first round. Thus, he introduced his booming initial shot to the broad audience before falling in the fourth round to Lorenzo Musetti.
The giant server dominates in Basel
Mpetshi Perricard fired 109 aces in five matches in Basel, backed by many more service winners. The Frenchman claimed four of five tie breaks and defended three break points against Denis Shapovalov. Giovanni kept all the rivals at bay, providing 60 holds and ousting Ben Shelton in the title clash to lift a notable trophy at 21.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Basel 2024© Stream screenshot
Mpetshi Perricard edges Frances Tiafoe in Paris
Two days after conquering Basel, the home favorite made a winning start at the Masters 1000 event in Paris. The 21-year-old faced Frances Tiafoe in the opening round and delivered a 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 victory in two hours and one minute. Mpetshi Perricard extended his streak after holding in all 17 games, defending two break points at 1-1 in the decider and prevailing with a single break three games later. Giovanni fired 53 service winners while following Frances’ numbers from the baseline and at the net. The American did not make too many errors, finishing the duel with one point more on his tally but hitting the exit door following that lone careless service game. Tiafoe built the advantage in the more advanced exchanges, and Mpetshi Perricard erased it in the quickest ones up to four strokes.
Frances Tiafoe & Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Paris Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
Frances takes a tight opener
The Frenchman held after a deuce in the first game of the encounter, and they both served well in the upcoming ones. Tiafoe served to stay in the set at 4-5 and 5-6, providing two commanding holds and introducing a tie break after 37 minutes. The American grabbed an early mini-break for 3-0 before the young gun erased it and leveled the score at 4-4 with an ace. Giovanni hit a double fault in the ninth point, falling behind but pulling the mini-break back in the next one. Frances converted the second set point at 6-5 after the rival’s double fault, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 44 minutes.
Frances Tiafoe, Paris Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
Giovanni bounces back
Mpetshi Perricard responded in the second set, holding after a deuce in the fourth game and following the rival’s pace. The 21-year-old grabbed the tenth game at love for more drama and held at 5-6 with an ace, introducing another tie break. Interestingly, they traded four mini-breaks in the opening four points. Giovanni landed two winners for 4-3 and fired a forehand down the line winner for a mini-break in the eighth point. Tiafoe missed a forehand at 4-5, and Giovanni landed a powerful serve on the first set point, arranging a decider after an hour and a half.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Paris Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
The home player breaks and prevails
Mpetshi Perricard faced the exit door at 1-1 in the final set, hitting a double fault and facing two break points. The home favorite denied them with a winner and a fine volley attack before holding after the rival’s backhand mistake. After feeling no issues behind the initial shot since the start of the duel, Tiafoe played a loose service game at 2-3 that would cost him dearly. He netted a backhand and sprayed an error at the net to drop serve and fall 4-2 behind. Mpetshi Perricard cemented the break with a service winner in game seven and served for the win at 5-3. The Frenchman fired four winners, sealing the deal in style and delivering his 80th consecutive hold!
“Giovanni is the greatest server in the world, no doubt! The way he serves is incredible. I saw the stats from the Basel final; he averaged 235 km/h on the first serve and 215 km/h on the second. It’s crazy. I faced him recently, but the conditions were different. The court was slower, and I managed to return his serve a couple of times in the games when I scored breaks. He is not easy to play against from the baseline as well. He deserved to win the trophy in Basel, and we will see more from him in the upcoming years,” Carlos Alcaras said.