Giovanni Mpetchi Perricard beat Next Gen player Jakub Mensik 7-5 7-6 (7-5) in 1 hour and 34 minutes to reach the semifinals at the Brisbane International.
Mpetchi Perricard fired 19 aces and did not face a break point. He has struck 75 aces across his three matches this season after beating Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe in Brisbane.
Both players held on their serve until the 12th game when Mpetchi Perricard earned his first break to win the first set 7-5. The second set also followed the serve order until the 12th game when Mensik saved a match point. Mpetchi Perricard earned a mini-break and sealed the win on his third match point.
Mpetchi Perricard will face Reilly Opelka, who upset Novak Djokovic 7-6 (8-6) 6-3. The Frenchman is aiming to win the third title following his titles in Lyon and Basel. He started the 2024 season outside the top 200 and ended it as the world number 31. He won the ATP Most Improved Player Award.“I was not calm inside. It was difficult to hold the nerves but I did well and I am pleased to have finished the match in two sets and I am proud of myself”, said Mpetchi Perricard.
