In a display of power and precision, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard clinched his second ATP title, outshining rising American star Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6 in the Basel final. The 21-year-old Frenchman thrilled fans with his explosive serves and unyielding defense in an hour and 26 minutes of high-stakes tennis, becoming the first Frenchman since Yannick Noah in 1987 to hoist the Basel trophy.
Perricard’s dominance on serve was key, firing 22 aces and successfully defending all three break points he faced, keeping Shelton constantly under pressure. His precise serving performance included a staggering 39 service winners, outperforming Shelton’s 27 and showing his edge in baseline exchanges and shorter rallies. Perricard’s serve consistency not only earned him an early break in the first set but also carried him through tense moments in the second set tiebreak.
In the opening set, Perricard secured an early break as Shelton’s forehand errors proved costly. The Frenchman’s powerhouse serving—reaching speeds up to 230 km/h—kept Shelton on his heels. The young star closed out the first set confidently, winning it 6-4 in 36 minutes with more thunderous serves.
The second set saw Shelton fight back, denying Perricard’s break opportunity at 2-2 with determined play. Perricard’s nerves were tested when he fell behind 30-0 while serving to stay in the set at 5-4, but he responded with four unreturned serves to hold and extend the set to a tiebreak.
With the tiebreak at 4-4, Shelton’s nerves got the better of him as a volley error handed Perricard the advantage. The Frenchman seized his moment, securing the title with two consecutive aces, including a flawless match point serve. His victory over Shelton marks a significant milestone for Perricard, placing him among the rising stars of men’s tennis and signaling a bright future for French tennis fans.
