Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will have to wait. Author of a great week, which saw him get the better of opponents such as Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe or Jakub Mensik, the French giant (2.03 m) was eliminated in the semi-finals of the ATP 250 of Brisbane this Saturday and will not win his first title in 2025. The 31st player in the world, revelation of the 2024 season, lost his duel of great servers against the American Reilly Opelka (2.11 m), who won in two sets (6-3, 7-6 [4]in 1h26) south of the Pat Rafter Arena.
No doubt tense at the idea of finding himself facing a player practicing the same style of play as him, all powerful and highly dependent on his serve, Mpetshi Perricard conceded the break from his first throw-in of the match. Overall less good behind his first ball (10 aces compared to 19 the day before against Mensik or 20 Thursday against Tiafoe), the Lyonnais ran behind the score throughout the end of the first set and missed a big opportunity at 4-2 by not not converting three consecutive break points.
Surprise faller from Novak Djokovic the day before, Opelka, although embarrassed and manipulated on the right wrist at the end of the first set, maintained his effort to win a second set without a break in the decisive game. The American, returning to competition after a serious hip injury, which has kept him away from the courts since the summer of 2022, will try to win his fifth career title on Sunday against Czech Jiri Lehecka.