Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard Shocks Top Seed Musetti in Brussels
Auger-Aliassime secures victory, advancing to ninth place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin
October 17, 2025
Belgaimage
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard triumphs over Lorenzo Musetti at the ATP 250 event in Brussels.
By ATP Staff
In a thrilling quarter-final match, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard defeated Lorenzo Musetti, the tournament’s top seed, with a score of 6-4, 7-6(8) at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels. This victory marks Perricard’s first win against the Italian after four previous attempts.
Coming into the match with a challenging 0-4 head-to-head record against Musetti, including two defeats earlier this year at the US Open and in Beijing, the French player displayed remarkable resilience. Perricard dominated behind his serve, losing only six points on his first serve (43/49), according to Infosys ATP Stats. He frequently pressed forward, asserting his game against Musetti, who is vying for a spot in Turin.
“I’m incredibly proud. My history against him wasn’t favorable,” expressed Mpetshi Perricard, who notably saved two set points in the second-set tie-break. “When I stepped on the court, I told myself I would try a different strategy, and it paid off. It was a nail-biter. I was up two match points and then had to fend off a set point. I’m really proud of my performance.”
This month has been monumental for Mpetshi Perricard, as he has celebrated two career Top 10 victories, including an impressive win over World No. 4 Taylor Fritz in Shanghai. He now aims for his third tour-level semi-final this season, set to face third-seeded Jiri Lehecka.
Perricard boasts a flawless 4-0 record against Top 20 players on indoor hard courts, a streak he looks to extend against World No. 17 Lehecka. The Czech player was ahead against Benjamin Bonzi when his opponent retired due to a left leg injury.
In another notable match, Felix Auger-Aliassime climbed past Jack Draper into ninth place in the Race To Turin by overcoming Eliot Spizzirri 6-2, 7-6(6). The 25-year-old faced a fierce challenge from Spizzirri, who held three set points in the second set, but Auger-Aliassime showcased his composure, elevating his game in a dramatic tie-break to secure the win.
“This sport can shift rapidly,” Auger-Aliassime commented on almost letting a 4-2 lead slip in the second set. “Every opponent in the draw poses a challenge. You start each day hoping it will be your day, preparing your best regardless of the foe you face.”
“For a set and a half, things couldn’t have gone better. Then I slipped up with a few mistakes, but I have to commend my opponent; he stepped up his game and it was a hard-fought battle until the end.”
Auger-Aliassime is now the second player this season to reach nine semi-finals, joining World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz with 11. Furthermore, he is the fourth player to achieve 30 hard-court match wins this season, following title victories in Adelaide and Montpellier. He leads the ATP Tour in indoor wins for the decade with 74.
As the Montreal native strives for a second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals after competing in 2022, he trails Musetti by 480 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, a gap he could narrow to just 330 points with a win.
