Unstoppable Mpetshi Perricard powers past Shelton to win Basel Open title
The Frenchman defeated Shelton 6-4, 7-6 (4) to win the Swiss Indoors title in Basel, the second title of his season
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard wins 2024 Swiss Indoors title in Basel © Georgios Kefalas/AP/SIPA
If there was ever a doubt about the prodigious talents of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, they have been swiftly dispelled today in a performance of supreme quality from the young Frenchman, as he defeated Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6 (4) to win the Swiss Indoors title in Basel.
It is the second trophy of the precocious 21-year-old’s career, having lifted his first in Lyon earlier this season, and a maiden ATP 500 title as Mpetshi Perricard’s profile as a promising youngster is rapidly evolving into one of a major threat to the rest of the Tour.
In a captivating clash of two highly-valued young talents, it was the Frenchman who came out on top of his more established colleague Shelton.
For his part, though, the young American did very little wrong, delivering a quality performance of his own in a competitive final.
But two small lapses in concentration proved costly as his opponent’s level remarkably never dipped. Mpetshi Perricard’s serving, in particular, was breathtaking.
The sheer power is enough to intimidate, yet it is matched with a variety and precision that make it one of the most impenetrable serves on the ATP Tour. Shelton was entirely shut out, unable to generate a single break point against the Frenchman for the pair’s second consecutive meeting, having also been served off the court by Mpetshi Perricard at Queen’s this summer.
early break costly as shelton shut out of opponent’s serve
That encounter may have been prominent in Shelton’s mind, especially after conceding an early break in the third game of the opening set.
From there, he was already in a perilous position unless his opponent’s iron-clad service game began to show signs of weakness. It didn’t. And the only break of the contest was decisive in handing Mpetshi Perricard a one-set lead as the remainder of the first stanza went on serve.
Another tight and tense set followed in the second, with neither player willing to give an inch in their own service games as high-quality delivery from both men set the theme for this final.
A tiebreak seemed inevitable, and so it was as the pair stayed locked at 6-6 after twelve breathless games. The breaker mirrored the set that preceded it, with Shelton and Mpetshi Perricard remaining level until 4-4.
It was Shelton who blinked first in a single moment of lapsed focus in which he sprayed a routine volley well wide to hand the advantage to his opponent. Two big serves later, and the match was over, Mpetshi Perricard clinching the biggest win of his burgeoning young career to take home the Basel Open title.
“It’s amazing to win a tournament like that,” the Frenchman said in an on-court interview following victory.
“An ATP 500, first time for me. I can be very happy, I’m very proud of what I did today and over the last five days. It was amazing to win here.
“On this surface, the serve is a big weapon for me. But I try to be aggressive from the baseline to put some pressure on the opponents… it was a big part of the game plan this week.
“My goal [this season] was to win a 250 or a 500, but to win both has been amazing. I’ve focused on what I can improve on game, and I’m very happy.”
mpetshi perricard joins rising wave of new french talent
Shelton can leave Basel with pride in a very productive week, reaching the third ATP final of his early career. But he comes away on the losing side of a final for the first time, as his opponent stole the day.
Currently ranked at 50 in the world, Mpetshi Perricard’s rise has been remarkable. He began the year outside the top 200 and has now crowned his entry into the world’s top 50 by becoming the lowest-ranked winner of the Basel Open in the tournament’s history.
He will be the world No 31 when the new rankings are released tomorrow, but this young man looks very much to be a top 10 player in the making, and one who is already not far off that level.
Following in Yannick Noah’s footsteps as the last French player to win the Basel Open, Mpetshi Perricard is carrying the torch for his country alongside compatriot Arthur Fils.
Coming just weeks after Richard Gasquet announced his retirement, title wins for Fils and now Mpetshi Perricard in Tokyo and Basel in recent weeks feel of particular pertinence.
A new generation of French tennis has arrived right on cue. And it is one to be reckoned with.
