Knowing how powerful Giovani Mpetshi Perricard is when he holds a tennis racquet in his hand, the chaotic moment at the last Wimbledon was not surprising. The 6ft 8inFrenchman unleashed a 153mph thunderbolt, smashing Wimbledon’s 145-year record. And now, that same thunderous serve has returned to tennis folklore, causing bizarre scenes as the Frenchman’s cannon-like strike shattered a fan’s cup, proof that Perricard’s power isn’t just history, it’s havoc in motion. 

At the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open quarterfinals, the atmosphere in Brussels turned electric. The fifth seed, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, stepped to the line like a man possessed, facing the top seed, Lorenzo Musetti, with fire in his veins. His 223-kilometer-per-hour ace didn’t just thunder past his opponent; it ricocheted into viral fame as it shattered a fan’s cup in the stands, sealing one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament.

The Frenchman came into this clash burdened by a 0-4 H2H record against Musetti, having fallen twice this year, once at the US Open and again in Beijing. But under the Brussels lights, Perricard flipped the script. He dropped just six points behind his monstrous first serve (43/49), according to Infosys ATP Stats, and stormed the net with fearless intent, determined to crush Musetti’s Turin hopes.

“I’m very proud. My record against him wasn’t very good,” said Mpetshi Perricard, his voice carrying the raw edge of redemption. “I stepped on the court and I said, ‘I need to try something else’, and it worked. It was a tight win. I was two match points up, then saving a set point. I’m very proud of myself.”

Mpetshi Perricard’s two career Top 10 wins have both come this month, a testament to his rising storm. After stunning World No. 4 Taylor Fritz in Shanghai, he carried that same relentless energy into Brussels, punching his ticket to a third tour-level semi-final this season.

Now, the towering 6’8” Frenchman sets his sights on third seed Jiri Lehecka in the last four. With a perfect 4-0 record against Top 20 players on indoor hard courts, Perricard stands on the brink of another seismic moment.

As his serves echo through arenas and timelines alike, his game stands tall, steady as a ship cutting through turbulent seas. Even legends of the sport have begun to take notice, their voices mingling with awe as the French powerhouse continues to roll on with his unrelenting storm of aces.

Boris Becker dismisses Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s serving dominance

Before storming into the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open, Giovanni had already made waves earlier this year at the Brisbane International. In his fiery quarterfinal battle against Frances Tiafoe, the Frenchman dominated throughout the match. Early in the clash, he fired a jaw-dropping 144 mph (232 km/h) serve, a blistering cannon that left the crowd gasping and his opponent frozen in disbelief. It was raw power, pure and unfiltered, marking him as one of the sport’s most fearsome servers heading into 2025.

The moment didn’t go unnoticed. Tennis fans and pundits alike buzzed over his explosive display, and soon the internet joined in the frenzy. A popular tennis account, @Big3Tennis, poured fuel on the fire with high praise 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.

But not everyone was ready to hand over that crown so easily. Former World No. 1 Boris Becker, never one to shy away from a hot debate, quote-posted the claim with a sharp retort: “Are you really sure about that?!?” His words rippled through the tennis world, sparking a digital storm of opinions, nostalgia, and rivalry.

Fans leaped into the fray, reviving memories of legends past: Pete Sampras, John Isner, and Ivo Karlovic, all titans of the serve whose names still echo through tennis history. Becker, ever the professor of power, doubled down a few days later in another post on 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, before tipping his hat to Alexander Zverev and Nick Kyrgios as modern masters.

Then came the kicker: Becker’s reminder of what truly matters in the grand scheme: “It all depends on what you’re going to do with it… winning tournaments!?!” It was both a challenge and a lesson, the kind only a Grand Slam champion could deliver.

Now, with his serves once again lighting up headlines and his confidence soaring into the semifinals in Brussels, the question burns brighter than ever: can the Frenchman hold his nerve against Jiri Lehecka? 

The power is there, the world is watching, and time will tell the rest of this rising storm’s tale.