Mpetshi Perricard, who defeated Sonego, makes no secret of the fact: "I know I'm capable of doing great things".

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is enjoying a quality 2024 season. At just 20 years of age, he is racking up a string of convincing results. Ranked above 200th in the world in January, he is now just outside the top 100 (117th this week). Having already won three titles on the Challenger circuit, two of them consecutively, he is now hoping to reach a new milestone.

Invited by the organizers of the Lyon tournament, this is his last tournament before the French Open (where he has also been granted a wild-card entry). He defeated Lorenzo Sonego, ranked 50th, in the first round (6-3, 6-4 in 1h19), and is set to meet Yoshihito Nishioka (ranked 72nd) in the last eight this Thursday.

Interviewed by the press after his victory, the Frenchman was extremely ambitious. He explained that he had a big goal this year: "My objective this season is to win an ATP tournament: 250, 500 or 1000, I don't know. I know I'm capable of doing great things with my game. I can be really formidable in these categories.

I'm going to give myself the means to succeed. I've got a great tour coming up in July/August. I've got a lot of tournaments to play. All I've got to do now is enjoy myself, gain confidence in myself and my game, and get going."