Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is a tennis junkie. Not solely is the 19-year-old discovering early success on the ATP Challenger Tour, he additionally manages to look at his shut buddies, reminiscent of Arthur Fils, on Challenger TV.
Amidst all his matches, practices, work outs, travelling, and the minute particulars that go into knowledgeable tennis participant’s life, the Frenchman is a real supporter of his buddies.
This week on the Helsinki Challenger, he didn’t have to go surfing to look at Fils. He was throughout the web for a first-round qualifying match.
“I attempt to watch each single match of Arthur’s on Challenger TV,” Mpetshi Perricard instructed ATPTour.com.
In 2021, ‘Gio’ made his first breakthrough as he partnered with Fils to win the Roland Garros boys’ doubles title. That very same week, Fils obtained the higher of him within the boys’ singles semi-final en path to a runner-up end (l. Van Assche). In Finland, the roles had been reversed as Mpetshi Perricard certified for the Helsinki Challenger fundamental draw. The #NextGenATP Frenchmen are hoping to be among the many subsequent era of high professionals of their nation.
“It was good to win the boys’ doubles title at residence with my pal,” Mpetshi Perricard stated. “Now once I see the outcomes of Arthur and guys like Gabriel Debru, we push one another in a great way. Once we are again coaching on the [French Tennis] Federation, there’s a good ambiance collectively.”
The Lyon native, who has competed in simply eight Challenger occasions in his profession, is already studying beneficial classes via the highs and lows of the skilled circuit. One necessary studying curve got here after a tricky loss in Might.
“On the Bordeaux Challenger, I misplaced in qualifying to Salvatore Caruso after having two match factors,” Mpetshi Perricard stated. “After the match I instructed myself, ‘Giovanni, you had two match factors towards an excellent participant, so you’ll be able to go larger!’
“The start of the season was very sophisticated for me. I had a shoulder harm and I used to be sick. Now I’m actually joyful to be taking part in at one hundred pc.”
This summer season, ‘Gio’ superior via qualifying en path to reaching his first Challenger semi-final on the Liberec Challenger, the place he misplaced to eventual champion Jiri Lehecka. The Frenchman continued to play properly on the clay-courts, together with the Lima-2 Challenger, the place he was a quarter-finalist (l. Coria).
The teen stands tall at 6’7” and carries an aggressive sport fashion. Boasting a heavy supply, stable forehand, and a one-handed backhand, ‘Gio’ pounces on any alternative to shut the web.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in motion on the 2022 Lima-2 Challenger. Credit score: @igmachallengers
Coached by Emmanuel Planque, who has beforehand labored with former Prime-25 gamers Michael Llodra, Lucas Pouille, and Fabrice Santoro, the World No. 382 has his eyes set on following within the footsteps of his French tennis idols Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils to realize a childhood dream.
“Rising up you see Roland Garros on TV, and I instructed myself, ‘I wish to be there!’” Mpetshi Perricard stated.
The Frenchman isn’t the one tennis participant in his household with a brilliant future. His 13-year-old sister Daphnee received the J3 Saint Cyprien ITF occasion this previous month. Giovanni cracked fun as he shared that he won’t ever enable her to beat him.
Whether or not he’s watching his buddies on Challenger TV, discovering success of his personal, or having fun with a sibling rivalry towards his youthful sister, ‘Gio’ has the game of tennis flowing via his veins.