2023-10-17 15:30:48
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 20 minutes ago, Updated now
Mpetshi Perricard KRISTOF VAN ACCOM / AFP
The young Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard won Tuesday in the first round of the ATP 250 tournament in Antwerp against the Spaniard Carballes Baena 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), thus signing his first victory on the main circuit.
The 20-year-old Lyonnais, 226th in the world, recovered after a failed first round, before saving a match point at the end of the third set, finally won in the tie-break. Mpetshi Perricard trailed 4-1 in the deciding game before inflicting a fatal 6-0 on his opponent, 64th in the world.
A junior semi-finalist at Roland-Garros in 2021, he had until then never managed to get past the first round on the ATP circuit. The French hope, nicknamed “Gio the Giant” because of his imposing physique – 2.03 m and 98 kg – will face Belgian David Goffin (105th) in the second round.
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