Wimbledon 2024: Lorenzo Musetti vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

Coming into Wimbledon this year, many pundits and experts predicted the dominance of the best players in the world. However, little did they know that a rising French star was up in the making. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the French sensation came into the main draw through qualifiers and has stunned some of the big names to make his way into the round-of-16 and does not seem to stop anytime soon. But, with the level only rising with each passing round, his road to glory will be a bit difficult now.

Having made his way into the final 16, he will now be looking to lock horns against the Italian sensation Lorenzo Musetti. The 25th seeded star, who has already established his supremacy on grass courts this year will not be an easy task to deal for Perricard. With the stage set for a thriller, who among the two will come out on top?

Lorenzo Musetti vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard: Preview

Currently ranked 25th in the world, Lorenzo Musetti reached the fourth round of Wimbledon 2024 by defeating Constant Lestienne 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-2, Luciano Darderi 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, Francisco Comesana 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3. In the third round, Musetti won against Comesana in four sets, scoring 158 points to Comesana’s 138, with an aggressive 69 winners.

Musetti served 4 aces and committed only 1 double fault, winning 72% of his first serves and 71% of his second serves, not conceding a single break. He broke Comesana three times from 16 break points (19%). This season, Musetti reached the finals of the Cagliari Challenger, the Turin Challenger, and the tournament in London. He has a 27-19 win-loss record in 2024.

On the other hand, ranked no. 58 (career-high), Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard reached the fourth round of Wimbledon 2024 by defeating Ugo Blanchet 6-2, 7-5, Antoine Escoffier 7-6(5), 6-2, Sebastian Korda 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 6-3, Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4, 6-1, 6-2, and Emil Ruusuvuori 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4.

In the third round, Mpetshi recovered from a one-set deficit to win against Ruusuvuori, scoring 132 points to Ruusuvuori’s 113, with an aggressive 65 winners. Mpetshi served 27 aces and committed 5 double faults, winning 84% of his first serves and 57% of his second serves, conceding serve only once. He broke Ruusuvuori three times from 11 break points (27%).

Musetti vs Perricard: Head-to-head

When it comes to the head-to-head stats between the two players, the Italian Lorenzo Musetti has the slightest advantages over his French opponent. Interestingly, these two players have played each other only once in their entire career and Musetti managed to win the match, thereby managing a slight 1-0 lead.

The only encounter between the two came earlier this year at the Stuttgart Open. In what was a very tight encounter between the two, he managed to secure a much needed win. The final scoreline of the match was 7-6, 7-6. Their encounter at Wimbledon will just be the second time they face other in a span of a month.

Prediction: In a tight battle, Mpetshi Perricard to end Musetti’s run

Mpetshi Perricard – This big server isn’t showing any signs of stopping – he’s already hammered down a ridiculous 27, 27, and 52 aces in his latest three matches. Musetti might be able to exploit some openings, but tiebreaks seem likely. This promises to be a tight battle between two strong servers. Well, a closer look at stats boasts an interesting tale.

While Musetti boasts a higher winning percentage on serve (82.7% vs 92.2%), Mpetshi Perricard has played more matches on grass this year (10-3 vs 7-2) and might have a slight edge in experience. However, Musetti’s superior break point conversion rate (36.7% vs 36.9%) could be a crucial factor. Additionally, Musetti reached the final at the recent Cinch Championships on grass, while Mpetshi Perricard lost earlier in the tournament. This suggests that Musetti might be in better form on the surface. Overall, it’s a close call.

Musetti’s return game and recent grass-court performance give him a slight edge, but Mpetshi Perricard’s powerful serve and experience on grass shouldn’t be underestimated. Expect a close match potentially decided by a single break of serve. With the stage all set for a thrilling encounter, who among the two will come out on top? Do let us know in the comments below!