This should make for a fascinating clash in styles, with huge-serving Mpetshi Perricard coming up against durable baseliner Cameron Norrie. French servebot Giovanni Mpethsi Perricard enjoyed a stellar 2024 campaign, harnessing the power of his serve to win titles in Lyon and Basel.
2025 ATP Tour
ATP 250
Lexus Eastbourne Open
Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, United Kingdom (Outdoor Grass)
Selected Round of 32 Matches- 24th June
Giovanni Mpethsi Perricard (7) 1.29 vs Cameron Norrie 0.61
But he has struggled this season, failing to reach a quarterfinal since opening the year with a solid semifinal run in Brisbane. Players have quickly discovered that his backhand is probably sub-Challenger level. Still, his serve remains formidable and could be a vital weapon during this grass-court swing. He struggled in his first two grass-court events, winning just one match across Stuttgart and Queens. But he did look quite impressive in Queens, pushing a relatively in-form Brandon Nakashima to three sets (he fired 23 aces in the process). The Frenchman looked dangerous during last year’s grass-court campaign, upsetting Ben Shelton at Queens before a standout 4th round run at Wimbledon.
Cameron Norrie has endured a tough 18 months or so, firmly displaced as Brit No.1 by fellow lefty Jack Draper (even Jacob Fearnley has moved past him in the current rankings). The nuggety lefty is a true grinder, lacking the type of monumental weapon that can help you run through draws. But the hard-working Brit has picked up some form in recent months and should be buoyed as we approach next week’s Wimbledon Championships (he reached the semifinals at SW19 in 2022). After a 3rd round run at the Madrid Open, Norrie reached the Genena semis before a highly creditable 4th round run at the French Open (he was beaten by Djokovic in straight sets). He suffered a slight setback at Queens, falling in the opening round to an inspired Jakub Mensik. But he should feel confident of bouncing back this week. Norrie has proven to be an adroit grass-court operator in the past, finishing runner-up at Queens in 2021 (to go with that incredible Wimbledon semifinal run).
The Verdict: Norrie to win in straight sets at 1.55- This will be their first career meeting and Norrie may need a few sighters before he understands the task at hand (Mpetshi Perricard is one of the most explosive servers I have ever seen). But he could do real damage if he can establish himself in rallies (especially if he targets the Frenchman’s backhand wing with his whippy lefty forehand).
