"I like Roger Federer but I prefer Rafael Nadal" - Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard makes candid admission after reaching Swiss Indoors Basel final
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard said that he preferred Rafael Nadal over Roger Federer. The Frenchman's candid admission came after he got past Holger Rune in the ongoing 2024 Swiss Indoors Basel semifinals to reach his maiden ATP 500-level final.
Mpetshi Perricard, 21, has enjoyed a breakthrough season so far on the ATP Tour. The Frenchman started the year outside the top 200, but his 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Rune in the Swiss Indoors Basel semifinals saw him climb up to No. 37 in the live ATP rankings. The 21-year-old has already made quite a name for himself thanks to his thunderous serves.
Against Rune, the Frenchman did not face a break point, and also won 87 per cent of his first-serve points. Astonishingly, Mpetshi Perricard has fired 87 aces across his four wins so far at the 2024 Swiss Indoors Basel, and is yet to lose a service game.
During his post-match, on-court interview, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was asked if he is inspired by Roger Federer, the former World No. 1 who won the Swiss Indoors Basel a record ten times. The Frenchman answered in the affirmative, but then went on to recall Federer beating great rival Rafael Nadal in the 2015 final, before stating that he personally prefers the Spaniard over the Swiss.
"Yeah, yeah (I drew inspiration from Roger Federer winning the Swiss Indoors Basel a record ten times), but I was sad when Rafa lost against him in 2015. So I mean, yeah, I like Roger but I do prefer Rafa," Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard said.
"Both players are great, amazing. And yeah, they inspired me when I was young and I just try to be as good as them," Mpetshi Perricard added.
The Frenchman will lock horns against Ben Shelton in the 2024 Swiss Indoors Basel final. In the other semifinal, Shelton got the better of Mpetshi Perricard's compatriot, Arthur Fils.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer, despite not being rated as highly as Rafael Nadal by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, holds a proud Open Era ATP record at the Swiss Indoors Basel.
Roger Federer reached the Swiss Indoors Basel final fifteen times; an Open Era ATP record for most finals reached at a single event
The first three Swiss Indoors Basel finals reached by Roger Federer (2006 - 2008) all went in his favor. However, on the fourth occasion (2009), his winning spree was stopped by Novak Djokovic.
The former World No. 1 would clinch the title yet again in 2010 and 2011, but then lose the finals of the 2012 and 2013 editions to Juan Martin del Potro. The Swiss returned to winning ways at the event in 2014 and 2015, and then went on to win his eighth, ninth and tenth Swiss Indoors Basel titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
In all, the former World No. 1 and 20-time Major champion reached the final of the Swiss Indoors Basel an astonishing fifteen times. It's still an ATP Tour record in the Open Era for the most number of finals reached by one player at a single tournament.