The French are finishing the season with a bang. After Arthur Rinderknech's strong performance in Shanghai last week, three other French players are continuing the same momentum. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in Brussels, Ugo Humbert in Stockholm, and Corentin Moutet in Almaty each reached the semi-finals of their respective ATP 250 tournaments this Friday, October 17.
Mpetshi Perricard takes on his bête noire and a semi-final in Brussels
It's a major debut for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The 22-year-old from Lyon, ranked 37th in the ATP rankings, scored the biggest victory of his young career by defeating Lorenzo Musetti, world number 8, in straight sets (6-4, 7-6). Before this match, the Italian had beaten him four times. This time, the Frenchman was able to turn the tide thanks to perfectly executed tactics and a strong mentality.
In a tense tiebreak in the second set, Mpetshi Perricard first missed a match point before capitalizing on two consecutive double faults from his opponent to close the gap. “I'm really proud. Lorenzo beat me several times and I had to change my game to disrupt him. It finally paid off,” the player said after the match. In the semifinals, he will face Czech Jiri Lehecka, who qualified after Benjamin Bonzi's retirement.
Humbert and Moutet complete the beautiful blue day
At the Stockholm tournament, Ugo Humbert secured a convincing victory over Italy's Lorenzo Sonego (6-7, 6-0, 6-3), securing his place in the semifinals for the first time since Eastbourne last June. The Metz native, currently ranked 26th in the world, will now face Denmark's Holger Rune, the number one seed, in a promising clash.
Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, Corentin Moutet, ranked 41st in the world, continued his fine form. The Parisian defeated Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff (6-4, 7-5) after a controlled match, despite trailing 3-0 in the second set. This victory propels him into the semifinals for the first time since his final in Mallorca this summer.
Three French players in the semi-finals on three different continents: a sign that French tennis is regaining its strength at the end of the season, on the eve of the European indoor tournaments.
