Brisbane: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard started the year unable to qualify for the Australian Open, but ends it as a rising star who spoiled Nick Kyrgios’ long-awaited singles return.
There might also be a fresh concern for the injury-prone Kyrgios, who had his right bicep massaged after losing the first set in a tiebreak, although he was able to play the final two sets without any issue.
Nick Kyrgios went head-to-head with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.Credit: Getty Images
Kyrgios had not played a singles match for 18 months before Tuesday’s tense 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3) defeat in Brisbane to Mpetshi Perricard because of a serious right wrist setback, after knee surgery kept him sidelined for the previous six months to that.
His sole ATP Tour match in that period was Monday night’s straight-sets doubles victory alongside 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic, which makes it all the more impressive how well he performed.
Kyrgios will be back on court in doubles on Wednesday against top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus, and should be mostly pleased with his return, even if the first-up loss leaves him short of matches for the Australian Open.
Mpetshi Perricard, a six-foot-eight Frenchman, was the ATP Tour’s most improved player in 2024 after surging more than 170 ranking spots to No.31, and looks a future powerhouse.
The 21-year-old sent an ominous warning with a 226km/h fault on his first serve of the match – producing audible gasps across Pat Rafter Arena – and did not stop ambushing Kyrgios with outrageously big serves. He finished with 36 aces and won 89 per cent of first-serve points.
Kyrgios had a single opening in the first set on Mpetshi Perricard’s serve.
Mpetshi Perricard celebrates his victory over Kyrgios.Credit: Getty Images
He twice drew errors from his French opponent’s racquet after returns at two-all in the first set to reduce him to 0-30, but Mpetshi Perricard shut the door with the next four points.
In fact, Mpetshi Perricard won 21 of his next 22 points on serve on his way to a one-set lead, including a gutsy 216km/h second serve to go 4-1 up in the tiebreak.
It was nothing new from a player who averaged almost 210 km/h on second serves during his inaugural ATP title run in Basel in October. The tour’s all-time aces leader, retired American John Isner, believes Mpetshi Perricard will be a “nightmare” for most players across the next decade-plus.
Even so, Kyrgios caned a forehand pass winner in the sixth game of the second set to bring up dual break points that Mpetshi Perricard swatted away in a blink of an eye with a pair of aces.
He had to survive three deuces in total before holding serve, but Kyrgios continued to battle – and even cheekily delivered an under-arm serve to complete a love service hold that gave him a 5-4 edge.
That was another box checked on the Kyrgios bingo card after he attempted an ill-advised ’tweener in the first set that thudded into the net during an otherwise routine baseline rally.
However, there was also plenty of substance about Kyrgios’ performance. With the Mpetshi Perricard first serve going slightly off the boil, the Canberran’s chances soared.
One wayward Mpetshi Perricard backhand on the second point of the tiebreak was all it took for Kyrgios’ confidence to soar – and he forced a third set soon after.
Kyrgios had to stave off a break point in the second game of the final set, but did not concede a point in his five following service games entering the tiebreak. As tiebreakers can be, it took one moment to doom the Australian firebrand.
Mpetshi Perricard jumped all over a Kyrgios second serve with an aggressive return that took his rival by surprise and put the Frenchman ahead for good.
Kyrgios’ exit capped a tough day for Australia.
Seventh seed Alexei Popyrin suffered a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Italian Matteo Arnaldi, while Queensland wildcard Adam Walton went down 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to fourth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe despite having two set points in the opener.
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