In the bustling courts of the Shanghai Masters, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard delivered a gritty performance Friday, edging out Italy's Luca Nardi in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (4). The Frenchman's victory marks a rare bright spot in what has been a challenging 2025 season for him, one marked by inconsistencies and early exits. Nardi, who had scraped through his first-round match against Ofner just days prior, fought valiantly in the tiebreaker but couldn't quite match Perricard's serving prowess under the Asian lights.
Indeed, Perricard's path to the third round wasn't without its tension. He converted key break points in the opening set, capitalizing on Nardi's unforced errors that seemed to pile up at the worst moments. The second set dragged into a tiebreak where Perricard's booming serves—clocking over 130 mph at times—proved decisive. For Nardi, it's another near-miss in a tournament that promised more after his recent upsets elsewhere.
Meanwhile, attention shifts to American Ben Shelton, who's set to face David Goffin later today in what could be a high-stakes second-round encounter. Shelton, riding momentum from his deep runs in earlier hard-court events this year, brings his explosive lefty game to the fore. Goffin, the veteran Belgian, has shown flashes of his old form but struggles with consistency against power players like Shelton. Their matchup promises fireworks, especially with Shelton's ranking hovering around the top 20 and Goffin's experience potentially tipping the scales in tight moments.
Francisco Cerundolo, the Argentine seed, also navigates his side of the draw, fresh off a solid win that keeps his title hopes alive. Yet, in a field stacked with heavy hitters, these under-the-radar battles often steal the show. However, Shelton's serve could overwhelm Goffin if the American avoids the mental lapses that have cost him before.
Moreover, as Shanghai heats up with more upsets on the horizon, the question lingers: will these mid-tier clashes reshape the tournament's narrative?