Rise of a new tennis star: 20-year-old local hero GIovanni Mpetshi Perricard claims Lyon Open
ATPSaturday, 25 May 2024 at 17:45
Arthur Fils sealed the title last year which propelled him to new heights, but on Saturday it was Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard who sealed Lyon Open glory in front of his home crowd after a sensational final win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Perricard who had to get a wildcard to play next week at Roland Garros proved that he could be one to watch. He will break into the world's top 100 on Monday, he was the lowest ranked finalist in Lyon history and saved Championship point in an epic.
With a vocal Lyon crowd behind him, Perricard was not to be denied. He sealed a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 win in a drama filled title match at the ATP 250. He was one point away from defeat against the crafty clay court operator at 6/7 down in the deciding tie-break.
But he came back to seal a famous win over-turning the deficit to win in two hours and 29 minutes. He fell to the ground as the crowd rose to their feet to applaud their home hero. At the age of just 20, he is certainly one for the future. But based off this week, remember the name.
During his title run, he not only saw off Etcheverry but also Alexander Bublik, Hugo Gaston and Lorenzo Sonego. His only slice of fortune came against Yoshihito Nishioka where he received a walk-over. But he joins Casper Ruud who also sealed a title this week on the ATP side. Victors in the WTA were Peyton Stearns and Madison Keys with the next stop being Roland Garros including for Perricard.
“It was crazy, a very good final,” said Mpetshi Perricard. “I was down in the second set, but I managed to do better. I’m very happy to win this tournament and I now have a lot of confidence for Roland Garros.”
“Everything [was happening],” said Mpetshi Perricard, when asked about the deciding tie-break. “I was thinking about many, many things. When I missed the volley at 5/4, it was difficult for me, but I saved one match point and I’m very happy to win.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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