Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is a physical monster, and has used his terrific attributes to soar to prominence within tennis.
Few would debate that suggestion.
However, he is far more than just a big serve, albeit that is quite comfortably his biggest weapon.
He knows how to play the game, and has more than enough technical assets to trouble even the best the sport has to offer.
Ben Shelton fell foul to that quality just yesterday, as he lost in the Basel Open final to the young star in the making.
Paul Annacone on Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s serve
Speaking on Tennis Channel, there was unsurprisingly widespread praise for the 6 foot 8 Frenchman following the biggest title in his young career.
After all, the manner in which Mpetshi Perrcard stormed to success in Basel was emphatic, and naturally caught the eye of Paul Annacone.
Certainly someone who knows talent when he sees it, having coached Roger Federer back in the day.
Speaking about Mpetshi Perricard, Annacone claimed: ‘To see him do that is just incredible, and to see him… What impresses me most, mostly, is from the playing coaching point of view, is someone that’s that clear.
‘You just never see someone, yeah maybe he double faults, but he’s just clear. It’s just picture-perfect of what he’s trying to do. I think that clarity lends itself to the ability that he’s going to make a tonne of them, because he doesn’t let stuff cloud his mind.
‘I’m a great server, I’m going to serve. That’s just the way it is.’
Mpetshi Perricard chose his favourite tennis player of all time before the Basel Open final, as he cut a relaxed figure going into the biggest match of his career so far.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard could threaten anyone on tour
This last week has certainly proven that, if Mpetshi Perricard is fit and firing, and can get his serving right on the day, there are few who could compete with his immeasurable power.
The fact that he didn’t lose his serve throughout the entire week, at an ATP 500-level event, is ludicrous.
Especially for a player who only made his debut on tour last year.
Just 21 years old, the way in which this towering Frenchman has soared to prominence is quite frightening.
And, now set to be seeded at the Australian Open, he will pose a problem for anyone he faces.
Already this year he has beaten big names like Shelton, Holger Rune, Seb Korda and more, but just as often lost in surprising fashion given his ability to trouble anyone.
If he can find some consistency in 2025, he could be a threat for the biggest titles.
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