Ben Shelton found himself on the receiving end of one of the most intimidating serves on the ATP Tour as he faced 6’8″ French powerhouse Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the Swiss Indoors final on Sunday. With serves clocking in at a blistering 146mph, Mpetshi Perricard’s powerful delivery overwhelmed Shelton, ultimately leading to a 6-4, 7-6 loss for the American. Afterward, Shelton humorously admitted that he “almost killed” himself trying to return Mpetshi Perricard’s bombs, a testament to the sheer force of the Frenchman’s game.
“I want to congratulate Gio on a great week and a great match today,” Shelton, 22, said post-match. “I almost killed myself trying to return your serve. So many other parts of your game have improved so much, and you’re such a great young talent.”
With this win, Mpetshi Perricard—who is quickly becoming known as one of the most intimidating servers in the sport—claimed his first ATP 500 title. His booming serves have clocked up to 152mph this year, a record-breaker at the French Open, and they were just as lethal in Basel, Switzerland. Shelton, known for his own powerful shots, acknowledged the rising star’s versatility and skill, adding that Mpetshi Perricard’s unique style is making waves in the ATP.
At just 21, Mpetshi Perricard’s rise to World No. 30 in less than a year is remarkable, moving up from a rank of 200 just ten months ago. His Swiss Indoors run included notable wins over Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, and Holger Rune. The towering Frenchman first made a name for himself in Grand Slam play this year, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon with a standout victory over Sebastian Korda before falling to Lorenzo Musetti.
Mpetshi Perricard credited his success to honing his baseline game to complement his serve. “On this surface, of course my serve is a good weapon for me,” he said. “But I try to be aggressive from the baseline and put pressure on the opponent. I’m very happy because [my serve] is a big part of my game.”
The victory marks a major milestone for Mpetshi Perricard, who will next face Frances Tiafoe in the first round at the Paris Masters. As the young Frenchman’s breakout season continues, players across the tour will be bracing themselves to face his record-breaking power.
