“It’s amazing to win a tournament like that,” said Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard after winning the ATP Swiss Indoors event. After all, why wouldn’t it be a moment of joy for him? Winning his first ATP 500 title at 21 and defeating the man in form Ben Shelton would mean a lot to him. The American star had no answer to the Frenchman’s game and succumbed to a straight-set defeat against him. However, despite the loss, Ben Shelton made sure to cheer up his opponent in a heartwarming act.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard defeated Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6 in the Swiss Indoors final. The Frenchman delivered a solid performance to secure the victory and make history as the lowest-ranked champion in Basel since the tournament became a tour-level event in 1975. Ranked No. 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Perricard’s powerful serve was on full display as he fired 22 aces throughout the match. His consistent and strong serving game ensured that he did not drop serve all week, making his run to the title even more impressive.

After his victory, Perricard expressed his gratitude by posting a photo on Instagram, where he celebrated the win with the caption, “First ATP 500 title! So much work, sacrifices… Thanks to my team and everyone who supported me on this journey. The process!” This heartfelt message showed the effort and dedication Perricard put into his journey, acknowledging the sacrifices made along the way. His appreciation for his team and supporters stood out as a key part of his emotional post.

In response, Ben Shelton, who was the sixth seed in the tournament, showed tremendous sportsmanship by commenting on Perricard’s post. “Too Good Big Homie,” Shelton wrote, giving a heartfelt shout out to his opponent after the tough loss. Despite being on the losing end, Shelton’s classy message showed mutual respect and friendship between the two players.

While Shelton fought hard during the final, he couldn’t break through Perricard’s relentless serving. Shelton’s best moment came with a brilliant blocked forehand return against a 236 km/h serve. Even though the match didn’t go in his favor, his sportsmanship after the match left a lasting impression on both fans and his opponent. Despite losing the match against the young Frenchman, Ben Shelton still managed to create history in Basel.

Despite losing, Ben Shelton creates history in the Swiss Indoors event in Basel

Ben Shelton became the first American player to reach the final in Basel since Andre Agassi in 1998. Agassi managed to achieve this milestone four years before Shelton was even born. Agassi finished runner-up that year, losing to Tim Henman. Shelton continues a proud tradition of American excellence at the Swiss Indoors, marking himself as the ninth American to reach the final.

However, among those nine, only five have gone on to win the title, with Jim Courier securing it twice, in 1989 and 1995. This places Shelton in an elite group, though he narrowly missed adding his name to the list of champions. John McEnroe holds the record for the most Basel final appearances by an American, reaching three finals in 1978, 1990, and 1991. He won the tournament in 1990. While Shelton fell short of winning this time, his remarkable run and classy sportsmanship, especially his shout out to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, have already made his mark in Basel’s history.

With a long journey ahead for the American superstar, will he finally be able to break the 28-year-old deadlock (Pete Sampras managed to win the event last in 1996) next year? What are your thoughts on this? Do let us know in the comments below!