Mpetshi Perricard Overcomes Musetti in Tense Brussels Quarterfinal
Under the Brussels arena lights, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard erased a lopsided head-to-head deficit against Lorenzo Musetti, clinching a gritty 6-4, 7-6(8) victory that signals his rising threat on indoor hard courts.
In the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open quarterfinals, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard arrived burdened by an 0-4 ATP Head2Head record against Lorenzo Musetti, with defeats this year at the US Open and last month in Beijing still fresh. The top-seeded Italian, eyeing a spot in Turin, encountered a Frenchman who unleashed aggressive net rushes and serve dominance to claim a 6-4, 7-6(8) upset. Mpetshi Perricard held 43 of 49 first-serve points, dropping just six, while his forward movement disrupted Musetti’s baseline rhythm on the swift indoor surface.
Shattering a stubborn rivalry
Mpetshi Perricard shifted tactics from prior losses, favoring inside-out forehands to stretch Musetti wide before slicing down-the-line backhands that forced defensive underspin. The first set turned on a break where his one-two serve-and-volley pinned the Italian in a crosscourt exchange, the crowd’s rising hum amplifying the tension. Musetti’s probing returns met resistance as the Frenchman volleyed decisively, turning historical frustration into controlled pressure.
In the second set, the match tightened into a tiebreak gauntlet, with Mpetshi Perricard squandering two match points before saving set points through sheer resolve and heavy serves. This breakthrough marked his first win over the Italian in five tries, a psychological release amid the arena’s focused energy. His indoor hard court record now stands at 4-0 against Top 20 players, underscoring surface-specific evolution.
“I’m very proud. My record against him wasn’t very good,” said Mpetshi Perricard, who saved two set points in the second-set tie-break. “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.”
Momentum surges to semifinal clash
This victory adds to Mpetshi Perricard’s two career Top 10 wins this month, following his upset of World No. 4 Taylor Fritz in Shanghai, propelling him to his third tour-level semifinal of the season. Next, he faces third seed Jiri Lehecka, who advanced when Benjamin Bonzi retired at 6-7(8), 6-1, 4-1 due to a left leg injury. The Czech’s flat groundstrokes will test the Frenchman’s net aggression, with Saturday’s matchup poised to extend his unbeaten streak against top foes indoors.
The Brussels court’s quick pace favors Mpetshi Perricard’s power, as seen in his forward charges that exposed Musetti‘s backhand vulnerabilities. Post-match elation rippled through the stands, a nod to his resilience in a season of breakthroughs. A deeper run here could redefine his late-year trajectory, blending tactical boldness with mental fortitude.
Auger-Aliassime advances in Turin pursuit
Across the draw, Felix Auger-Aliassime leapfrogged Jack Draper for ninth in the Race To Turin, defeating Eliot Spizzirri 6-2, 7-6(6) after fending off three set points in a volatile second set. The Canadian elevated with inside-out forehands and steady returns in the tiebreak, turning a slipped 4-2 lead into advancement. At 25, he matches World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz with nine semifinals this season, his 30 hard-court wins—including titles in Adelaide and Montpellier—highlighting consistent form.
Auger-Aliassime leads the tour with 74 indoor wins this decade, fueling his bid for a second Nitto ATP Finals appearance since 2022. Eighth-placed Musetti holds a 480-point edge in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, but a title would narrow that to 330, injecting urgency into his preparation. “This sport can turn fast,” he reflected on the momentum shift. “Every opponent in the draw is difficult. You wake up every day hoping that it’s going to be your day and you prepare your best regardless of who you play. For a set and a half, it was tough to ask for better. Then I made one or two mistakes, but I have to give him so much credit. He raised his level, he played really well and it was a battle until the end.”
Spizzirri’s surge demanded quick adjustments, mirroring the indoor swing’s demands where mental edges decide tight contests. As Brussels unfolds, these wins capture the tour’s late-season intensity, with players like Auger-Aliassime and Mpetshi Perricard navigating rivalries and surfaces to chase year-end glory. Their advances hint at shifting dynamics heading into the final stretch.
