Big servers Mpetshi Perricard, Opelka ace way into Brisbane QFs

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard wasted little time in showing opponent Frances Tiafoe and the Brisbane International presented by Evie crowd what he was about on Thursday when he fired four aces in his opening service game against the American.

The 21-year-old’s red-hot start set the tone for the match, with Tiafoe unable to answer the Frenchman’s power. Under the Brisbane heat, Mpetshi Perricard hammered 20 aces and saved both break points he faced to earn a 6-4, 7-6(4) second-round victory.

”I was very warm from the first game,” Mpetshi Perricard said when asked about his fast start. “I didn’t see the speed of the serves but over 230kmh is very fast, so I am pleased.”

And that’s how it’s done 🔥

Mpetshi Perricard turns up the dials in Brisbane to deliver a straight sets win against Tiafoe ⚙️@brisbanetennis | #BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/bZhUw1GTd8

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 2, 2025

The World No. 31 hit 36 aces in his win against Nick Kyrgios in his opening match, also serving a game of aces, and backed that up with a confident performance against Tiafoe to improve to 6-1 against Top 20 players.

“It was a good match," said Mpetshi Perricard, who led the Tour with an average of 19 aces per match last season. "It is never easy to play against Frances. I did well in the first set and then battled in the second. I tried to put some pressure on his second serve and it worked, so I am pleased with my performance today.”

Mpetshi Perricard is aiming to clinch his third tour-level title this week. A year ago, the Frenchman was outside the Top 200 in the PIF ATP Rankings but starts this season at No. 31, having won ATP Tour trophies in Lyon and Basel in 2024.

In a day of success for big servers, 6’11” Reilly Opelka also advanced. The American struck 25 aces according to Infosys ATP Stats en route to defeating Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(9), 7-6(4). Opelka saved one set point in the first set and converted on his third match point in the second-set tie-break to reach his first ATP Tour quarter-final since 2022 (Delray Beach).

At No. 293 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Opelka is the second-lowest ranked quarter-finalist in Brisbane history. Rafael Nadal was the lowest when he advanced to the last eight in 2024. Opelka will meet top seed Novak Djokovic or Frenchman Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals.

Earlier, #NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik became the fourth-youngest quarter-finalist in tournament history when he moved past Serbian lucky loser Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-2 in just 66 minutes.

The 19-year-old, who competed at last month’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, leads Lajovic 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Into his sixth tour-level quarter-final, Mensik will next face Mpetshi Perricard.