By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 8, 2024
Lorenzo Musetti downsized tournament ace-leader Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 reaching his first career Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Wimbledon—Massive server Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was poised throw a birthday bash—and create Grand Slam history today.
Relying on a creative attack, Lorenzo Musetti downsized the towering Frenchman to stage a massive major celebration.
The 22-year-old Musetti crashed to the court in joy after wrapping a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the tournament ace leader Mpetshi Perricard to advance to his first career Grand Slam quarterfinal on No. 2 court.
Musetti spoiled Mpetshi Perricard’s 21st birthday and ended the 6’8” Frenchman’s bid to become the first lucky loser—man or woman—to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal. Mpetshi Perricard was also playing to become the first Frenchman to reach the quarterfinals in his Wimbledon debut.
Queen’s Club finalist Musetti frequently chipped backhand returns and delivered some slick running one-handed backhand passes at crucial moments.
It all added up to a historic victory for Musetti, who joins compatriot and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner as the second Italian man to reach the last eight at The Championships—marking the first time in history two Italian men have reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
After climbing up off the grass, Musetti wiped away tears reflecting on the best Grand Slam of his career.
“It’s tough for me to get emotional, but today I think I will,” Musetti said in his on-court interview after his second grass-court win over Mpetshi Perricard in the last month. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a kid.. “I always had a family a really beautiful family that always supported me chasing my dream….It’s tough to speak, sorry.”
The 25th-seeded Musetti, who lost to American Tommy Paul in last month’s Queen’s Club final, raised his 2024 grass-court record to 11-2.
Musetti will face either French Open finalist Alexander Zverev or 13th-seeded American Taylor Fritz for a semifinal spot. Fritzi is 2-1 v vs. Musetti, including a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 win in the 2022 Wimbledon first round; Zverev won his lone meeting with Musetti at the 2022 Madrid.
Riding his lightning bolt serve in an inspired run to the fourth round, Mpetschi Perricard has pumped a tournament-best 115 aces through four rounds.
Focusing on blocking back returns, Musetti converted five of 15 break-point chances. Mpetschi Perricard tried going big on second serves, but sometimes missed the mark. He hit 10 against eight double faults in a two hour, three minutes triumph.
Musetti’s prior best major performances were a pair of fourth-round appearances at Roland Garros in 2021 and 2023.
Because of his long, elegant backswings, Musetti is often regarded as most dangerous on his favorite surface—red clay—but has adapted his game to grass this summer.
Though Mpetshi Perricard was throwing down some thunderous second serves in the 120 mph range, Musetti actually backed his second serve better.
The Italian won 21 of 25 second-serve points and was effective at net challenging the Frenchman’s one-handed backhand in winning 13 of 17 net points.
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While Mpetschi Perricard was a bit of a stoic presence in this match, an emotional Musetti engaged with coach Simone Tartarini at various points in the match and played with positive emotion on crucial points.