Mpetshi Perricard knocked out early in Rome and the 3rd time against Thompson this year

Mpetshi Perricard lost in the first round of the Rome Masters 1000 to Thompson in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 7-6). He suffered his fifth opening-round defeat and his third against the Australian after Miami and Monte-Carlo.

Briefly interrupted by rain, the match lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes. After each player claimed a set, the two battled it out until the tie-break, which the 31-year-old won 7-5. Mpetshi Perricard failed to secure his first victory against his opponent and remains winless at 0-5. However, he did manage to win his first set in their head-to-head meetings.

Thompson, meanwhile, comes off a second-round loss in Monte-Carlo to Tsitsipas. The Australian has already improved on last year’s performance in the Italian capital, where he was eliminated in his opening match. He will now face Nakashima in the second round.