Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard Claims First ATP 500 Title in Basel

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, ranked world number 50, achieved a remarkable feat by overpowering Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Basel, marking his first title at this level. The 21-year-old Frenchman completed the match in under an hour and a half, adding this prestigious title to the ATP 250 event he won in Lyon earlier this year.

With this victory, Mpetshi Perricard becomes the lowest-ranked champion in Basel since it became a tour-level event in 1975. "It's amazing to win a tournament like this. A 500 for the first time for me," he expressed, excitedly noting that he will reach a career-high ranking of 31 when the new ATP rankings are released on Monday.

Reflecting on his journey, he stated, "I just can be happy with myself, with what I did today and the past five days. It's amazing to win here. It was a tough month for me, but it's always good when the victories are there."

Standing at 2.03 meters (6 feet 8 inches), Mpetshi Perricard showcased an exceptional serving performance throughout the tournament, hitting 22 aces in the final and a total of 109 aces over the five matches in Basel. He set the tone for his victory by breaking Shelton in his second service game and took the first set in under 40 minutes.

The second set proved to be more competitive, with both players holding serve until the tiebreak. At 4-4 in the tiebreak, Shelton faltered, allowing Mpetshi Perricard to seize the next two points and secure the match.

Both players are set to compete in the upcoming Paris Masters, where Mpetshi Perricard will face American Frances Tiafoe, currently ranked 15th in the world. Shelton, meanwhile, is scheduled to meet world number one Jannik Sinner, provided he can advance past his first-round match against a qualifier.