Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard powers into Brisbane SFs | ATP Tour

Match Report

Red-hot Mpetshi Perricard powers into Brisbane SFs

Dimitrov, Lehecka advance

January 03, 2025

There is no stopping Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard right now. The big-serving Frenchman once again imposed his brand of Big-Man Tennis at the Brisbane International presented by Evie on Friday when he powered past Jakub Mensik to reach the semi-finals.

The 21-year-old fired 19 aces and did not face a break point according to Infosys ATP Stats en route to a 7-5, 7-6(5) one-hour, 34-minute win against #NextGenATP Czech Mensik.

“I was not that calm inside. It was difficult to hold the nerves but I did well and am pleased to have finished the match in two sets and I am proud of myself,” Mpetshi Perricard said.

Smile if you’re into the semis @MpetshiG takes out Mensik in straight sets to book his place in the @BrisbaneTennis SF #BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/gzXUPeRsVp

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 3, 2025

Alongside his heavy baseline ballstriking, Mpetshi Perricard also closed the net effectively and played aggressively on return at crucial moments to breach the defences of an increasingly frustrated Mensik, who competed at last month’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

Mpetshi Perricard is chasing his third ATP Tour title and will meet big-serving American Reilly Opelka in his third tour-level semi-final on Saturday.

“I have worked a lot on the volley during the preseason and I can see it coming together,” Mpetshi Perricard said. “It will be a tough semi-final.”

Mpetshi Perricard has struck 75 aces across his three matches this season, having also defeated Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe in Brisbane. The No. 31 player in the PIF ATP Rankings led the Tour last year with an average of 19 aces per match.

In other action, Jiri Lehecka continued his impressive record on Australian soil with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Nicolas Jarry. Lehecka defeated Jarry en route to his first ATP Tour title in Adelaide last season and now leads the Chilean 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Into his eighth tour-level semi-final, the Czech will play second seed Grigor Dimitrov in the last four after the Bulgarian advanced following Jordan Thompson’s retirement due to injury.

Dimitrov led the eighth-seeded Aussie 6-1, 2-1 when play was stopped. Dimitrov has fond memories in Brisbane, having lifted the trophy at the ATP 250 event in 2017 and in 2024. He will aim to win his 10th tour-level title this weekend.