ANTWERP/WASHINGTON, October 17, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)
In a matter of about 48 hours, 20-year-old Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France has gone from being a little-known qualifier to reaching the round of 16 at the ATP 250 European Open in Antwerp, Belgium.
First, the big-serving (6-foot-8, 216 pounds) righty with the one-fisted backhand from Lyon won a pair of straight-set qualifying matches on Sunday and Monday to earn a berth in the main draw, breaking a four-match losing streak that stretched over four tournaments – three of them suffered in the first round. Then, Mpetshi Perricard eliminated sixth seed Roberto Carballes Baena, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), in just under two hours Tuesday afternoon inside Lotto Arena’s cozy Court 1 to earn his first career ATP Tour main draw victory.
Serving 🆙 a shock 🇫🇷@MpetshiG saves match point to take down (6) Carballes Baena for a maiden tour level triumph@EuroTennisOpen | #EuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/xcLPLapEd7
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 17, 2023
It all represents quite a nice turnaround for Mpetshi Perricard, who earlier this season won an ATP Challenger 75 title on a hard court in Leon, Mexico, and has compiled a respectable 36-24 win-loss record in all competitions in 2023. He made his ATP Tour debut at the French Open as a wild card.
The 226th-ranked Mpetshi Perricard struck 31 winners against No. 64 Carballes Baena, including 13 aces. Plus, he won 70 percent of his first-serve points and saved a match point in the third set at 4-5 (40-Ad). The acrobatic Mpetshi Perricard been very successful in three-set matches this year, winning 16 of 23. This was the ninth time he has come back to win after losing the first set.
15 October 11h45: “Giovanni your match is in 15 minutes, hurry up! 🔜
2 days later… 🤔
🇫🇷 G. Mpetshi Perricard beats 🇪🇸 Carballes Baena after a stunning comeback 0-6 6-3 7-6(4) 🤯
See you in the next round GMP‼️#EuropeanOpen | #ATPTour | #Tennis | #Antwerp | #GMP pic.twitter.com/OOusH4JcUC
— European Open (@EuroTennisOpen) October 17, 2023
The victory advances Mpetshi Perricard to the second round against 105th-ranked Belgian favorite David Goffin on Center Court Wednesday evening.
Hanfmann eliminates Antwerp’s Blockx, making ATP Tour debut
No. 5 seed Yannick Hanfmann of Germany overcame 18-year-old hometown favorite and qualifier Alexander Blockx of Belgium, who was making his ATP Tour debut, 6-4, 7-6 (3), in a featured match on Center Court Tuesday evening.
Hanfmann, 31, who now resides with his girlfriend in Antwerp, took advantage of the only service break of the one-hour and 38-minute match, in the first set. He put away the victory over the 646th-ranked Blockx, 13 years his junior and nearly 600 places separating them in the rankings, with a driving volley winner – his 23rd winner of the first-round match, for his 22nd tour-level win of the season.
Nice contest 👍
5th seed Yannick Hanfmann overcomes ATP debutant Blockx in 2 tight sets to reach R2 in Antwerp#EuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/wVs4CXSuzg
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 17, 2023
“The crowd was definitely enjoying this match,” Hanfmann said in an on-court interview. “It was a really good atmosphere. Alex is a hella player. He’s already so good and so young. I was prepared, I’ve been practicing with him here. I knew going in it wasn’t going to be easy. It showed in the score. I thought it was a tough match and I’m happy to get through it [with a win].”
Finding the answers 👏@YannickHanfmann defies hometown debutant Blockx 6-4, 7-6(3) ➡️ R2@EuroTennisOpen | #EuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/RXP2wNsIXx
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 17, 2023
Next, Hanfmann will face No. 86 Dominic Thiem of Austria, who overcame a slow start and rallied from a set and a break down to beat 133rd-ranked wild card Luca Nardi of Italy, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2, in two hours and 28 minutes. Despite being outpointed 100-99, Thiem came on strong in the final set and found the right stuff to break an eight-match losing streak against Italian players on tour-level going back to 2019.
Made to work 💪
Dominic Thiem comes back from a set and a break to defeat an inspired Nardi in his opening match in Antwerp! pic.twitter.com/wSDkUGSeF5
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 17, 2023
Marterer earns second Top 100 win of the season
Behind 11 services aces, 127th-ranked German qualifier Maximilian Marterer beat No. 7 seed and 2016 champion Richard Gasquet of France, 6-3, 6-4, in an hour and nine minutes for his second Top 100 victory of the season.
The 28-year-old Nuremberg native broke his French opponent once in each set and aced the 62nd-ranked Gasquet on match point, his 36th overall winner. He outpointed the 37-year-old Gasquet 60-51 to advance against either Nuno Borges of Portugal or fellow German Dominik Koepfer, who play on Wednesday.
German Quality 🤩
Marterer beats 🇫🇷 Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-4 to make it in to the second round 🔥#EuropeanOpen | #ATPTour | #Tennis | #Antwerp | #Marterer pic.twitter.com/DlAW7vrzog
— European Open (@EuroTennisOpen) October 17, 2023
“From the first day I arrived here I have been feeling good,” said Marterer, who defeated Gijs Brouwer of the Netherlands and Titouan Droguet of France to reach the main draw. He has not lost a set in his three matches at Lotto Arena. “I’m happy I could show a [good] level today and play well in the important moments. There were some where I really needed to play good tennis today. I’m happy to get through. … Let’s see how far I can go.”
Clean finish 💥
Qualifier Maximilian Marterer defeats Gasquet to book his spot in R2 in Antwerp!@eurotennisopen pic.twitter.com/qubB1yQTPw
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 17, 2023
Around the European Open
World No. 84 Alexander Shevchenko of Russia gutted out a two and one-half hour 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-3 comeback win over 89th-ranked qualifier Benjamin Bonzi in his Antwerp debut – just his fourth career tour-level win on a hard court – in back of 10 aces and 46 winners to advance against No. 8 seed Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru. Shevchenko, 22, improved to 10-14 in tour-level matches this season. It was his first ATP Tour win since Barcelona in April.
Touch of class 👌
Alexander Shevchenko reels in Bonzi 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-3 with skills like this!@EuroTennisOpen | #EuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/9rHZoISyxf
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 17, 2023
The No. 69 Varillas downed No. 65 Fabian Marozsan of Hungary, 7-6 (7), 6-4, in an hour and 51 minutes. Marozsan, fresh off his quarterfinal run in Shanghai last week, was able to only convert two of 11 break-point chances and was outpointed 89-83.
🇳🇱Middelkoop/🇩🇪Mies defeat the Belgian WC Colson/Bergs after a real battle 6-4 6-7(8) 10-6 👏#EuropeanOpen | #ATPTour | #Tennis | #Antwerp | #Middelkoop | #Mies pic.twitter.com/U7dJJDqu5O
— European Open (@EuroTennisOpen) October 17, 2023
Tuesday’s European Open results
Wednesday’s European Open order of play
By the numbers
Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann is 13-7 in opening rounds this season. He has a 7-3 tour-level record against players ranked outside of the Top 100 in 2023.
“Quotable …”
“It’s going fast but I don’t want to stop on that. I will try to make the best out of this year. Hopefully I can improve.”
– Alexander Shevchenko of Russia, on his rise in the ATP rankings, from Top 300 in April 2022 to Top 100 a year later. Shevchenko achieved a career-best ranking of No. 83 in August of this year.
