Mpetshi Perricard takes surprise victory at Swiss Indoors

Strong-serving outside player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard became the first Frenchman since 1987 to win the Swiss Indoors in Basel. He defeated American Ben Shelton in the final.

Shelton (ATP 23), seeded No. 6, lived up to his popular role because, like everyone else at St. Jakobshalle this week, he could not find a way to counter the serve of the 2.03m Mpetshi Perricard (ATP 50) . With a single break of serve, the Frenchman prevailed 6:4, 7:6 (7:4) to win his second ATP title, and his first at ATP 500 level, on home clay court in Lyon champion.

On the other hand, the 22-year-old left-hander Shelton lost his first final in his third attempt also because he appeared nervous, especially at the beginning of the match, and lost his second serve – which It was also his first time in the finals. This year's competition. Mpehi Perikad, who is one year younger than him, did not have a chance to break serve.

He didn't drop a single point on his serve in the second-set tiebreaker; Shelton's volley error at 4:4 proved decisive. Mpetshi Perricard then hit two aces on match point at 238km/h. What was surprising was the coolness and composure displayed by the young Frenchman. At 3 minutes and 3 seconds of the second set, he hit his second serve ace at a speed of 235 kilometers per hour. He hit 22 aces in total, which was about his average in the tournament. He is the first Frenchman to score a victory across the border in Basel since Yannick Noah (1982 and 1987).

Mpetshi Perricard will rise to No. 31 in the world rankings on Monday, and given the strength of his serve, further improvement seems inevitable. Shelton, last year's U.S. Open semifinalist, returned to the top 20 after defeating Stan Wawrinka and top seed Andre Rubulu. (National Institutes of Health/National Security Agency)

Lara Gut-Behrami decided not to start in Sölden. “I just don't feel 100 percent fit,” the Ticino woman explained after checking the route on Saturday morning.