Musetti makes first Grand Slam quarter-final, ending Mpetshi Perricard’s run

Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 25 seed, reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon by winning against French lucky loser Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on Monday.

The Frenchman’s run at Wimbledon had been built on the foundation of an almost unbreakable serve, with Mpetshi Perricard striking over 100 aces across his opening three matches.

However, the lucky loser ran out of luck on Monday, with his serve misfiring. He was only able to conjure 10 aces and a first serve win percentage of 67 percent, with 10 double faults. On top of this, his return and net play were uncharacteristically poor as well, winning only 19 percent of points on Musetti’s serve.

This opened the door for Musetti to pounce, and pounce he did, with five breaks of serve across the two hour, three minute match.

Musetti on breaking Mpetshi Perricard’s serve

“I have to say that some serves are probably unreturnable, so you have to accept that,” said Musetti after the match, when questioned on his approach to his opponent’s weapon.

“But then when you have the chance, you have to take it,” he continued. “My coach told me before the game, To break him you have to be 0-40, not 30-40, because he’s going to probably do an ace or a first-serve winner. 

“He was right. When I had the chance in the break points that I had during the match, and the games where I broke him I was always, like, two points in advance. Let’s say the first one was always some big serve of him. Even last game, 0-40, two aces, then one rally where both players can win the point.”

Mpetshi Perricard reflects on loss

Mpetshi Perricard was honest after the match, reflecting that his level wasn’t where it needed to be.

“It was a tough match for me, I was a little bit down physically,” he shared.

“It wasn’t my best today. I don’t know why – maybe because I was down physically.

“I felt it during the first set, that I was less reactive, everything was more difficult. It’s my first fourth round, there are things I’ve never explore, like playing being tired.”

Musetti, ranked No 25, will play the winner of the match between American Taylor Fritz, the No 13 seed, and German Alexander Zverev, the No 4 seed, next.

The 22-year-old Italian beat Frenchman Constant Lestienne (4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-2), Luciano Darderi (6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4) and Argentinian Francisco Comesana (6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3) ahead of his victory.

In the previous rounds of The Championships, Mpetshi Perricard, ranked No 58, defeated American Sebastian Korda, the No 20 seed (7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-7 (4), 6-3), Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (6-4, 6-1, 6-2) and Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4).

Much of his success had been dependent on his big serve, but that fell apart during this high-pressure match. He served eight double faults and won only 62 per cent of points on his serve.

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Mpetshi Perricard: “I’m just doing my job, sending bombs in every direction”

Tennis Majors

London (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 50.000.000, most recent results first):

• Holger Rune vs. Novak Djokovic
• Taylor Fritz vs. Alexander Zverev
• Arthur Fils vs. Alex De Minaur: monday
• Tommy Paul (12) beat Roberto Bautista Agut: 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-2
• Daniil Medvedev (5) beat Grigor Dimitrov (10): 5-3 ret.
• Jannik Sinner (1) beat Ben Shelton (14): 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (9)
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Ugo Humbert (16): 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5