BORDEAUX/STARNBERG, May 18, 2025

The BNP Paribas Primrose ATP Challenger Tour 175 clay-court tournament in Bordeaux delivered a thrilling day of tennis on the eve of its grand finale, offering fans a spectacle of talent, intensity, and drama under a sun-drenched sky. With the stands of Court Central SCC France packed to the brim, the semi-final matchups lived up to every expectation, setting the stage for an electrifying final day.

Saturday’s first semi-final brought together two exciting players: towering Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Australia’s agile all-court player, Rinky Hijikata. It was a compelling clash of contrasting styles, but Mpetshi Perricard’s booming serves and aggressive net play proved decisive. He edged out a tight first set 7-5 and clinched the second in a tense tie-break, winning 7-5, 7-6.

With this victory, Mpetshi Perricard becomes the sixth Frenchman to reach the Bordeaux final since 2018, following in the footsteps of Gregoire Barrere, Lucas Pouille, Quentin Halys, Ugo Humbert, and Arthur Fils. He now carries the hopes of the home crowd into Sunday’s championship match.

Final in France

Mpetshi Perricard finishes off Hijikata 7-5, 7-6(5) to become the third straight Frenchman into the Bordeaux final.#ATPChallenger | @fftennis pic.twitter.com/7oFIFvVE9J

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 17, 2025

The day’s final singles semi-final brought a stunning upset. Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, a former top-20 player known for his explosive baseline power, dismantled No. 3 seed Tallon Griekspoor in commanding fashion. After a balanced start, Basilashvili took control, capturing the first set 6-4 and then dominating the second with a crushing 6-0 scoreline.

It was a statement win for the Georgian, marking a resurgent moment in his 2025 season and earning him a well-deserved place in the final.