Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard produced the biggest win of his young career on Sunday, stunning World No.4 Taylor Fritz in straight sets at the Shanghai Masters. The 21-year-old fired 12 aces and showed remarkable composure in key moments to claim a 6-4, 7-5 victory in an hour and 25 minutes, sealing his spot in the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time.
It was a statement performance from the powerful Frenchman, who avenged a heartbreaking five-set defeat to Fritz at Wimbledon earlier this year. Under harsh humid conditions at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Mpetshi Perricard stayed calm when it mattered most as he broke the American once in each set to close out the match without facing a single break point.
“I’m really happy with the way I played,” said Perricard after the match. “It was tough physically and mentally, but I tried to do better than I did at Wimbledon, and today it worked. This is a big moment for me.”
The defining moment came late in the second set when the Frenchman broke Fritz in the 11th game. The American, who was leading 30-0, struggled to find his range as the humid conditions took their toll. Perricard seized the opportunity with aggressive returning and clean hitting before serving out the match confidently in the next game.
It was a clinical performance built around consistency and power that have defined his rapid rise this season. Coming into the match with a 0-6 record against top-10 opponents, Perricard showcased maturity beyond his years, mixing heavy first serves with smart net approaches.
The win marked his first victory over a top-five player, earning him a place in the fourth round where he will face the 10th seed Holger Rune who also advanced with a straight-sets win over Ugo Humbert.
For Taylor Fritz, the early exit comes as a blow in his push for qualification to the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin. The American is currently fifth in the live race and remains in contention but will now need strong results in the remaining Masters events to secure his spot.
Elsewhere, Zizou Bergs upset 19th seed Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(1), 6-3 while Gabriel Diallo advanced after David Goffin retired early due to injury. Rune, meanwhile, praised his focus in the heavy conditions, saying he had to “push when it mattered and save energy when possible.”
With big names like Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner still in the draw, Perricard’s breakthrough adds fresh intrigue to an already unpredictable Shanghai Masters.
