Ben Shelton Admits: ‘I Nearly Killed Myself Trying to Return Your Serve’

Ben Shelton Faces Fierce Challenge in Swiss Indoors Final Against 6ft 8 Serve Powerhouse Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

Ben Shelton recently found himself on the receiving end of a powerful serve from tennis’ new giant, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, during the Swiss Indoors final. The two players went head-to-head for the title, with Mpetshi Perricard clinching victory in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6, to secure his first ATP 500 title. The Frenchman’s massive serve posed a significant challenge, as Shelton and his other opponents struggled to find an answer.

Mpetshi Perricard, standing 6 feet 8 inches, has earned a reputation for his powerful serves, even clocking a 152 mph serve at the French Open earlier this year—one of the fastest in tennis history. In his match against Shelton, he served another stunning 149 mph shot. Reflecting on his opponent’s formidable serve, the sixth-seeded Shelton humorously noted, “I almost killed myself trying to return your serve.” He went on to commend the 21-year-old Frenchman, calling him “a great young talent” who has shown significant improvement in various areas of his game.

Shelton further praised Mpetshi Perricard for his remarkable journey from being ranked 200th to reaching the top 30 in under a year, applauding his breakout season and contributions to the sport’s diversity.

After winning the Swiss Indoors title, Mpetshi Perricard climbed to world No. 30, showcasing his breakthrough Grand Slam performance earlier at Wimbledon, where he reached the last 16. In Switzerland, he faced and defeated high-caliber players such as Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, and Holger Rune, solidifying his rising status in the tennis world.