Standing tall at 6’7” and boasting a hefty serve, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s persona could not precisely replicate his heavy-hitting type of play.

“I am shy. You see an enormous tall man, however I am very shy,” Mpetshi Perricard advised ATPTour.com. “I’ve all the time been shy since I used to be born. I am not shy with my associates however with different folks I’m.”

Although his persona could also be considerably reserved, the 19-year-old’s serve is sort of the alternative. Earlier this month, the Frenchman lifted his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title after firing 21 aces within the Leon Challenger ultimate. The Lyon native held his nerve to flee Argentine Juan Pablo Ficovich 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 7-6(3). The #NextGenATP star performed 5 tie-breaks throughout his semi-final and ultimate in Mexico.

“I used to be actually pleased after the match. It was my objective to win my first Challenger this 12 months as early as potential,” Mpetshi Perricard mentioned. “I did all the things nice that week. I used to be nervous all day earlier than the ultimate, as a result of the ultimate was at six. I used to be actually nervous within the morning and after my first coaching. Throughout the match, it was very demanding. A lot emotion. I used to be not in a great place within the second tie-break, dropping 0/3 and a pair of/4. I used to be actually proud to win.”

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard triumphs on the Challenger 75 occasion in Leon, Mexico.” />
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard triumphs on the Challenger 75 occasion in Leon, Mexico. Credit score: Ricardo Sanchez

{The teenager} is among the many subsequent crop of promising French tennis gamers. Luca Van Assche, 18, is a three-time Challenger champion and the youngest participant within the High 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. The 18-year-old Arthur Fils gained the Oeiras-2 Challenger in January, a month previous to reaching back-to-back tour-level semi-finals in Montpellier and Marseille.

Mpetshi Perricard, Van Assche, and Fils are the primary French teen trio to say Challenger titles in a single season since 2005: Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. This isn’t the primary time the #NextGenATP Frenchmen have been making progress collectively.

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 bought the higher of him within the boys’ singles semi-final en path to a runner-up end (l. Van Assche).

Mpetshi Perricard is drawing inspiration not solely from his French tennis idols Tsonga and Monfils, but in addition his colleagues Van Assche and Fils, who’ve already made a splash on the ATP Tour.

“Luca trains on the Federation too. We speak about all the things, he is my good friend,” Mpetshi Perricard mentioned. “I used to be actually pleased to see him breaking the High 100. I watched a few of his matches in Banja Luka, like in opposition to Stan Wawrinka. [Luca] performs actually good, I am very pleased for him. I want to get into the High 100 as quickly as potential like him. Arthur as properly, he did superb at Montpellier and Marseille. They’re proving all the things is feasible. I wish to strive my probability and do what I can.”

‘Gio’, who’s No. 231 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, will subsequent be in qualifying motion on the Prague-2 Challenger. If he has downtime away from coaching, it’s possible you’ll catch the teenager following basketball.

“I am watching the NBA playoffs, particularly the Los Angeles Lakers,” Mpetshi Perricard mentioned. “I am an enormous fan of Lebron James. I used to be a fan since I began watching the NBA. I’ve adopted him throughout his complete profession. I like his dedication to the work, to do all of the work outdoors the basketball courtroom. When he is beneath stress, he is all the time there and tries to assist the workforce as a lot as he can.”