Towering Frenchman's Serving Prowess Could Dismantle Australian Open Field
Paul Riverbank, 1/9/2025Towering Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard's thunderous serve, averaging 19 aces per match, could be his ace up the sleeve at the Australian Open, as the 21-year-old aims to dismantle the game's elite with his deceptive pace differential and "ridiculous" holding rate.
Towering at 6ft 8in, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is a serving behemoth on the ATP Tour, his lofty frame propelling thunderous deliveries that leave opponents gasping for air. The 21-year-old Frenchman has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, averaging a staggering 19 aces per match in 2024 -- a statistic that dwarfs even the most formidable servers on the circuit.
As the Australian Open looms, Mpetshi Perricard's serve could well be the ace up his sleeve, a weapon capable of dismantling the game's elite. "He has a very repeatable, easy motion, doesn't have a high ball toss, and it comes very quick out of his hand. It's a very easy, repeatable motion," lauded Brad Gilbert, the former coach of Andy Murray and Coco Gauff. "For a really big guy, he has just a very easy, fluid, relaxed motion. Repeatable. That's what you see instantly."
Mpetshi Perricard's breakthrough season in 2024 saw him soar from a lowly ranking of 205 to a lofty 31st, claiming two ATP Tour titles along the way -- a clay-court triumph in his hometown of Lyon and a hard-court victory in Basel. His exploits on the grass were equally impressive, reaching the last 16 at both Queen's and Wimbledon, where he unleashed a barrage of 51 aces in an epic five-set victory over Sebastian Korda, saving all 11 break points he faced.
The key to Mpetshi Perricard's success lies in the deceptive pace differential between his first and second serves -- a mere 12 mph separating the two. This subtle variation keeps opponents guessing, unable to adjust their timing and positioning as they brace for the next thunderbolt.
As Gilbert ponders the Frenchman's potential, he poses a tantalizing question: "Can he hold [serve] the ridiculous rate that he does against all players and then do it against a [Jannik] Sinner or [Carlos] Alcaraz? If he can then go from 10 per cent breaking to 15, 17 per cent, and maintain where he is at holding serve, he is a top-five player for sure."
With the Australian Open beckoning, the stage is set for Mpetshi Perricard to unleash his serving prowess on the game's grandest stage. While the usual suspects of Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner will undoubtedly be formidable foes, the towering Frenchman's ability to hold serve at a "ridiculous rate" could well be the X-factor that propels him deep into the tournament -- a serving machine poised to leave an indelible mark on the first Grand Slam of the year.
