The standard suspects of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner might be anticipated to contend on the Australian Open having gained the final 10 Grand Slam singles titles between them.
British hopes, in the meantime, will relaxation on Jack Draper, with the world No 15 trying to construct on reaching the semi-finals of the US Open.
However past the established names – of which we are able to additionally throw in Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz – there could also be an actual ace within the pack, fairly actually.
France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is a serving machine.
The 21-year-old’s lofty 6ft 8in body helped him hearth down a mean of 19 aces a match throughout the 2024 season, over 5 greater than nearest challenger Hubert Hurkacz (13.4).
Mpetshi Perricard has begun 2025 in the same vein, unleashing 36 aces in his opening win over Nick Kyrgios in Brisbane, 20 as he noticed off Frances Tiafoe, after which 19 in opposition to Jakub Mensik.
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Watch highlights as Mpetshi Perricard beat Frances Tiafoe 6-4 7-6 to achieve the quarter-finals of the Brisbane Worldwide
That dropped to 10 as he was overwhelmed by Djokovic’s conqueror Reilly Opelka within the semi-finals however he actually made his mark forward of the primary Grand Slam of the 12 months, averaging 21.25 aces per match.
Key for Mpetshi Perricard is the small change in tempo between his common first-serve velocity (135 mph) and his second (123 mph).
How Mpetshi Perricard progressed in 2024
The teenager from Lyon started 2024 ranked 205th on the planet and with simply two ATP Tour-level victories to his identify however ended it up at 31 within the standings and with two ATP Tour titles.
Mpetshi Perricard triumphed on clay in his house metropolis in Could, over Tomas Martin Echeverry, to land a maiden ATP 250 trophy
He then went one rung larger by successful a 500 occasion in October, seeing off fellow massive server Ben Shelton on a tough court docket in Basel.
He additionally made it to the final 16 at Queen’s and Wimbledon in the course of the grass-court season, earing wins over Shelton and Sebastian Korda.
In his epic five-set victory over Korda on the All England Membership, he produced 51 aces and saved all 11 break factors he confronted.
Mpetshi Perricard celebrates after successful the Basel Open, one among two titles he picked up final season
Is Mpetshi Perricard a future top-five participant?
So, why is Mpetshi Perricard’s serve such a harmful weapon?
One-time world No 4 Brad Gilbert, a former coach of Andy Murray and Coco Gauff, informed the ATP Tour’s web site: “I think people get a little carried away because you’re tall, that you’re going to have a good serve.
“He has a really repeatable, straightforward movement, does not have a excessive ball toss, and it comes very fast out of his hand. It is a very simple, repeatable movement. I believe that will get misplaced.
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French Wildcard Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard edged previous Frances Tiafoe throughout their opening spherical conflict on the Paris Masters.
“He doesn’t leap off the ground that much. His serve doesn’t look that taxing. For a really big guy, he has just a very easy, fluid, relaxed motion. Repeatable. That’s what you see instantly.
“Can he maintain [serve] the ridiculous charge that he does in opposition to all gamers after which do it in opposition to a [Jannik] Sinner or [Carlos] Alcaraz?
“If he can then go from 10 per cent breaking to 15, 17 per cent, and maintain where he is at holding serve, he is a top-five player for sure.”
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