LONDON — In a dramatic first-round match at Wimbledon, Taylor Fritz overcame a record-breaking 153 mph serve from Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and an overnight suspension to secure a 6-7 (6), 6-7 (8), 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory. The match resumed on Tuesday after being halted due to a curfew, with Fritz needing only 35 minutes to finish off his opponent at No. 1 Court.
The intense contest saw Fritz, the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up, rally from two sets down and survive multiple match points in the fourth-set tiebreaker. “A really crazy match,” the No. 5-seeded Fritz remarked. “I thought it was about to be all over last night in the fourth-set tiebreaker. But he came back on me in the first two tiebreakers, so I thought maybe I had one in me. I’m super happy to get through it.”
Record-Breaking Serve and Tactical Play
The match was notable not only for its suspense but also for Mpetshi Perricard’s blistering serve, which set a new Wimbledon record. On the third point of the match, the 6-foot-8 Frenchman delivered a 153 mph serve, surpassing the previous record of 148 mph set by Taylor Dent in 2010. Despite the speed, Fritz managed to return the serve and win the point with a forehand volley.
“The funny thing is, I always tell my coaches (when) they sometimes say maybe I should try to serve (into the) body … (that) I think body serves are awful. I never win the point when I do it,” Fritz said. “And I sent the video (of the 153 mph serve) to my coach, saying: ‘There you go. He served the fastest serve in the history of Wimbledon right into my chest, and I won the point, so there’s your proof: Body serves are bad.'”
Overnight Suspension and Strategic Decisions
Fritz’s determination was tested further when the match was suspended at 10:15 p.m. due to the All England Club’s 11 p.m. curfew. Although he preferred to continue, Fritz understood the decision. “I mean, it’s obviously not ideal. I felt like if we weren’t going to have time to finish the fifth set, then absolutely I think it makes sense not to play the fifth set,” he explained. “But we were having sets about as long as you can possibly play sets, and they were still in the time frame that we had last night to play the fifth.”
Returning the next day, Fritz quickly wrapped up the match, which featured a total of 66 aces — 37 by Mpetshi Perricard and 29 by Fritz. This performance underscored Fritz’s comfort on grass courts, a surface that complements his powerful serve and forehand.
Grass Court Success and Future Prospects
Fritz’s victory at Wimbledon follows his recent success on grass, including his fourth Eastbourne Open title. Reflecting on the match, he said, “This is a huge, huge week for me, with the recent results on grass. So I was thinking about that in this match. It put a lot of pressure on me, because I really didn’t want to go out in the first round.”
Fritz’s performance in this match and his history on grass courts suggest a promising future in the tournament. Having reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in previous years, Fritz is poised to make a significant impact this season.
Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: AP News. More AP tennis: AP Tennis Hub
