Hero at home! Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard saves MP and wins in Lyon | ATP Tour

Lyon

Hero at home! Mpetshi Perricard saves MP and wins in Lyon

The 20-year-old Frenchman won his first title in his fourth ATP Tour tournament

May 25, 2024

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was able to withstand the pressure in the decisive tie-break to cap a dream week and lift his first ATP Tour title this Saturday at the Open Parc in the city where he was born.

Carried away by the public in Lyon, the 20-year-old French guest defeated sixth seed Tomás Martín Etcheverry in a dramatic duel 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(7) in two hours and 28 minutes.

Mpetshi Perricard was also able to save a match point in the third set tiebreaker at 6-7, in what was only his fourth ATP Tour tournament.

“It was incredible, a very good final,” said Mpetshi Perricard, shortly after falling backwards on the clay after taking advantage of his second match point. “I was down in the second set, but I managed to do better. “I am very happy to win this tournament and now I have a lot of confidence for Roland Garros.”

🏆 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗧Í𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗢 𝗔𝗧𝗣 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 🏆

🇫🇷 @MpetshiG He achieved his first crown in Lyon, after beating Etcheverry in an epic final 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(7).

🎥 @TennisTV | @OpenParcARA

pic.twitter.com/M6IhSkmEIm

— ATP Tour in Spanish (@ATPTour_ES) May 25, 2024

It is the second consecutive year that a young French promise manages to win the trophy in Lyon, after Arthur Fils managed to win his first ATP Tour title also last year. In total, Mpetshi Perricard is the fourth French champion in the seven editions of this ATP 250 clay court event.

The Frenchman had to live with nerves and pressure to win the first duel recorded by the Lexus ATP Head2Head against Etcheverry, who was also fighting to lift his first crown in his third final (Santiago 2023, Houston 2023 and Lyon 2024). However, several errors at the net by Mpetshi Perricard (a shot into the net and a long volley) did not prevent him from celebrating the victory.

“Everything happened,” said the Frenchman, when asked about the decisive tie-break. “I thought about many things. When I missed the volley at 5-4, it was difficult for me, but I saved a match point and I am very happy to win.”

Mpetshi Perricard became the seventh player to debut his record this season, after Jiri Lehecka (Adelaide), Alejandro Tabilo (Auckland), Luciano Darderi (Córdoba), Facundo Díaz Acosta (Buenos Aires) did so before him this year. , Jordan Thompson (Los Cabos) and Jan-Lennard Struff (Munich).

The Frenchman concluded the match with three of six break points converted, according to Infosys ATP statistics. He is the third player outside the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings to win a title this season, joining No. 136 Darderi and No. 135 Matteo Berrettini in Marrakech.

Of course, Mpetshi Perricard will not be out of the Top 100 for too long. His great performance at home, where he also signed the most important victory of his career against world No. 19 Alexander Bublik, will allow him to make a jump of 51 positions this Monday up to No. 66 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Did you know…?

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, ranked No. 117 in the world, is the lowest-ranked player in the PIF ATP Rankings to win the title at the Open Parc de Lyon.