Match Report

Medvedev masters Mpetshi Perricard in Dubai

Daniil Medvedev further demonstrated his adaptability and sharp instincts on Wednesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The top seed delivered a typically tactful display to advance past the big serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 for a third consecutive year. Medvedev, the 2023 champion, remained resolute against the 140 mp/h serves sent down by the Frenchman, and picked him off with ease during the 82-minute contest.

“You don’t have any time, so it’s pure reflexes,” said Medvedev of Mpetshi Perricard’s serve. “It makes it even easier, because if you don’t return it, you’re not even disappointed. There were some second serves I missed [however], and I was disappointed. You just try to do your best and I managed it pretty well today.”

Meddy in his zone 😤 🔒@DaniilMedwed makes it three consecutive quarter-finals in Dubai, defeating Mpetshi Perricard 4⃣ and 4⃣@DDFTennis | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/iIDb7EHp2t

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 26, 2025

With his all-in approach — firing second serves at speeds comparable to his first — Mpetshi Perricard has established himself as a serious threat on Tour. The 21-year-old, who sits at a career high of No. 29 in the PIF ATP Rankings, won two tour-level titles in 2024, in Lyon and Basel, respectively. Yet Medvedev countered the young Frenchman’s unconventional style by forcing him into baseline exchanges and outlasting him with the relentless consistency that he has grown a reputation for.

The World No. 6, Medvedev won 96 per cent (23/24) of points behind his own first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and did not face a break point. Mpetshi Perricard saved eight of the 10 he faced, but was ultimately unable to contain his unforced error count, which rose to 44.

“It’s tactically easy, in a way, because you have to be strong on your [own] serve,” added Medvedev. “I was very good on my serve, that helped. Then you can put pressure on his serve, try to guess or see something. I’m generally happy with my level.”

Medvedev, who is chasing his first title since he won the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome in 2023, will next face Tallon Griekspoor, who rallied past defending champion Ugo Humbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his 18th tour-level quarter-final. The Dutchman saved all four of the break points he faced in the final two sets en route to snapping the recent Marseille titlist’s 6-match win streak and levelling their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 1-1.

“He’s an unbelievable player,” Griekspoor said of Humbert. “He hits the ball so, so hard. Whenever he’s on there’s not much you can do. I’m very happy with the win. Last time we played it was three tie-breaks, I served for the match and had a couple of match points. That one hurt, so I’m happy to get my revenge a couple of years later.”

Earlier, two-time ATP Tour champion in 2025, Felix Auger-Aliassime set a quarter-final clash with former World No. 3 Marin Cilic. The Canadian No. 1, who triumphed in Adelaide and Montpellier this year, rallied past Nuno Borges 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Cilic earned back-to-back tour-level wins for the first time since his title run in Hangzhou last September by overcoming Alexei Popyrin 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.