ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2025

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

Press Conference

D. DZUMHUR/G. Mpetshi Perricard

7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. What was missing in the match for you today?

GIOVANNI MPETSHI PERRICARD: Quite a lot. The only shot that worked today was my serve. I had the impression that I didn't have a good year. The intensity when I was hitting the ball, not the quality that I was looking for. It was too tight against a player like him.

Q. What is the feeling as you come out of this match? Frustration? What is the word you would put on it?

GIOVANNI MPETSHI PERRICARD: I would say yes, a lot of frustration. I played a good first round, which is quite encouraging. The fact of having such a low level, in particular when I was returning against a server... Not being effective to return the ball. He played very well. He made quite a few dropshots. He made me move around the court. Well done to him.

There were areas where I wasn't good at all, particularly my backhand. It was very difficult to have good, quality balls. The balls were not heavy enough to move to the side.

Q. You were talking about a lack of consistency in the first round and second round. How are you working to gain consistency on a clay court, which is not your favorite surface?

GIOVANNI MPETSHI PERRICARD: Well, it's simple. You need to have an example and try to reproduce it as much as possible. It's not really the shot itself. There are legs and lots of things to make a good shot. Everybody knows how to hit a forehand and backhand, but when you're moving around... Maybe I was just not as fast today.

I was less accurate in my adjustments, therefore I didn't have a good result.

Q. Do you have the impression that you progressed in this season on clay courts compared to April when you began in Monte-Carlo?

GIOVANNI MPETSHI PERRICARD: Yes, for sure. I do have the feeling that I have progressed. I wasn't very good at the beginning. Have to be honest. And the fact of playing a good match in Bordeaux and a good match here is encouraging for what's to come next.

I know I'm able to play well on clay courts. If we look at the match today, obviously 90% of the time, to be kind, it was not very good.

Q. What happened in your mind when he fell at the beginning of the fourth set? He was holding his knee. Did you think it was over for him? Was it difficult for you to get back in the match afterwards?

GIOVANNI MPETSHI PERRICARD: No, not really. It was just part of the game. I didn't really see how he fell. If he couldn't walk any more, he couldn't walk any more. He played well a few points afterwards. I don't know if he really hurt himself. He overcame the pain. I'm not there to judge.

What we need to remember is that I lost. Even though that accident happened, I was not very good.

Q. In Madrid you said if you carry on like this, you're heading for the wall. Do you have the impression you've gotten a bit further away from the wall?

GIOVANNI MPETSHI PERRICARD: Yes, I've gotten a bit further away from the wall, but not enough. In Madrid a lot was missing. In Monte-Carlo, too. It's not only in the game. It was also my state of mind and the way I was playing on the court.

I had to change things. If we look at the last three tournaments, I played seven matches. Out of the seven matches, there was a good game level, a good attitude, a good mindset. Now I need to look at what worked and why I managed to win these types of matches, even though it was tight, and to try to reproduce this in each tournament each week. We'll look at everything at the end to see what was missing to reach the very highest level.

Q. You're very disappointed. A bit hard on yourself. What do you need to do to bounce back? The grass tournaments are coming up.

GIOVANNI MPETSHI PERRICARD: Well, I have to play the doubles tomorrow. We need to play a good doubles with Alex. We're playing against two good players.

The press conference before Monte-Carlo, I said I was happy to be back on clay, but I didn't play very good tournaments. I'm not very happy to go back to grass either. There will be less transition to grass, which will be quite important.

It's three weeks where we have to be ready physically. It's a surface where I have weapons to do very well.

Yes, it will be interesting to see. I must be aware that I have to just go for it and carry on.