Big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard stunned World No. 4 Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5 to advance to the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters on Sunday. Firing 12 aces to Fritz’s nine, Mpetshi Perricard secured a break in each set to claim his first tour-level win over the American in just one hour and 25 minutes. And now, in his post-match press conference, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard admitted just how tough the battle had been.

Ultimately, the victory sets up a last-16 clash with 10th seed Holger Rune, marking another milestone in the 22-year-old’s breakthrough season. With temperatures soaring and humidity testing players throughout the tournament, Mpetshi Perricard acknowledged that the conditions were far from easy. After coming through a grueling encounter with Fritz, he was asked how challenging it was to compete in such heat, and the young Frenchman offered a detailed account of the physical and mental strain it took to get the job done.

“It was tough, to be honest. Tough conditions, very humid, a lot of humidity. So the game at 5-5, it was terrible,” admitted Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard during his post-match press conference as reported by the Tennis Gazette. “I thought I was dying on the court. I tried to stay steady on the ball, to put one more ball, one more, one more, and try to win the point. It was tough consecutive points, so I’m very happy to still be standing on both feet.” And he wasn’t exaggerating, as the heat in Shanghai has been relentless, and many players have voiced similar struggles throughout the week.

Just yesterday, with Jannik Sinner forced to retire due to injury against Tallon Griekspoor, the Dutchman reflected afterward, saying, “Brutal conditions here in Shanghai all week already. I felt we were still a little bit lucky to play in the evening without sun.” Even Novak Djokovic weighed in after his round of 32 victory over Yannick Hanfmann, describing the environment as unforgiving. “It’s brutal when you have over 80% humidity day after day for the guys, particularly when they’re playing during the day with heat, with sun. You know, it’s even more brutal,” the Serbian said.

And they’re not exaggerating. On Sunday, temperatures in Shanghai reportedly peaked at 35°C (at 14:30) with 59% humidity, while the week’s average hovered around 28°C with 75% humidity. For players grinding it out on outdoor hard courts, the combination of heat and humidity has made every rally feel like a test of survival as much as skill.

As Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard now advances to face Holger Rune in the round of 16, eyeing a maiden run into the latter stages of an ATP 1000 event, the tenth seed, however, will need to tread carefully as Mpetshi Perricard fired an imposing 29 winners to Fritz’s eight, showcasing the kind of power that can trouble anyone on tour. And if the young Frenchman manages to pull off another win, he might just silence a German legend who (earlier this year) cast doubt on his all-around game.

Boris Becker downplays Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s serving prowess

Before reaching the semifinals of the Brisbane International, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard turned heads in his quarterfinal clash against Frances Tiafoe. Although he eventually clinched the win, it was his incredible serving speed that caught everyone’s attention. Early in the match, he unleashed a 144 mph (232 km/h) serve, a statement of raw power that left the crowd in awe. Such dominance at the start of the 2025 season was enough to make his rivals take notice.

Ultimately, echoing the buzz around his serve, a popular tennis account, @Big3Tennis, shared high praise for the Frenchman on X. “Perricard has the best serve I’ve ever seen. From the mechanics, to the ease of power, to the effectiveness. I think he’ll end up being regarded as the best server ever,” the account posted on January 1.

However, former World No. 1 Boris Becker wasn’t entirely convinced by the claim. Quoting the post, he replied, “Are you really sure about that?!?”, a response that quickly gained traction online. His skepticism prompted fans to bring up legendary names from the past who were also celebrated for their serving power, including Pete Sampras, John Isner, and Ivo Karlovic.

A few days later, Becker elaborated on his view in another post dated January 4. “Little surprised my suggestion #Sampras had best serve in tennis (thought it was obvious…) but let’s not forget @JohnIsner, @ivokarlovic,” he wrote, adding that even Alexander Zverev and Nick Kyrgios deserve recognition. Becker concluded with a pointed reminder: “It all depends on what you’re going to do with it… winning tournaments!?!”

That said, whether Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s booming serve will redefine tennis greatness or fade against history’s best remains to be seen. For now, he’s proving that raw power, when paired with grit, can shake up even the toughest stages. So, can Perricard’s serve rival the likes of Sampras or Isner? What do you think?