Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a towering talent

Standing at an impressive 2.03m (6’8”), Lyon-born Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard grew up just a stone’s throw from Babolat’s headquarters, the same place where he signed his first sponsorship deal at just 10 years old. Today, he’s considered one of the brightest rising stars in global tennis.

A passionate fan of Rafael Nadal, Olympique Lyonnais, the city of Rio, Formula 1, and American basketball (especially LeBron James and the LA Lakers), Giovanni first caught Babolat’s attention at age 10. Yoann Chartron recalls: "We started working with Gio in 2013 after a call from a club coach, which is often how it begins. Olivier Carlier was the first from Babolat to meet him. I took over in 2014, the year of his first gear contract, to support his family and build the relationship. Back then, he played with the Pure Aero. After two years, we upgraded him to a full sponsorship including apparel, shoes, and bags. At 16, he signed his first international contract for racquets and strings with us."

Arthur Fils claimed his first ATP 250 title in Lyon, near Babolat HQ, in May 2023, a win that helped him break into the world’s Top 100. Giovanni followed in his footsteps a year later, with the same result, at the same tournament. A double source of pride for Babolat, and though their paths have differed, the journeys of these two French talents have been intertwined for years, highlighted by a junior semifinal clash at Roland-Garros and their shared doubles title at that same Slam in 2021.

« Pure Drive for maximizing his power »

At 12, shy but already endearing, Giovanni wore a striking size 44 (US 10.5). “GMP” went on to win the French national 13/14s and joined the French national tennis center in Poitiers, having grown up in the Lyon area. Though his father Ghislain Mpetshi once played pro football for Bourg-Péronnas, Giovanni never took to soccer. Instead, as a kid, he dabbled in basketball and swimming. During those crucial teen years when athletes often consider switching sports, Babolat worked hard to offer him the best fit. "Gio was so powerful, we had him try the Pure Strike for more control. But in the end, the Pure Drive, the most powerful frame in our lineup, was the best way to harness his strengths," says Chartron. Giovanni would sometimes have lunch at the Babolat cafeteria with his mom or his younger sister Daphnée, who’s also signed with the brand. In fact, she played the qualifiers and junior draw at Roland-Garros 2025.

Thanks to his height and timing, Giovanni developed a monster serve and a lethal forehand, but under coach Emmanuel Planque (appointed by the French Federation), he’s added new layers to his game. These helped him win his first Futures title in 2021 in Uriage (Isère), defeating none other than Arthur Fils in the final, and make a breakthrough on the ATP Tour in 2024.

« RPM Blast 135, like Rafael Nadal »

Starting 2024 ranked 205 in the world, Giovanni exploded onto the scene using the Pure Drive strung with RPM Blast at 1.35 gauge. "Nadal also used 135, not many players do," notes Chartron. Riding a wave of success with Challenger titles in Nottingham, Cuernavaca, and Acapulco, Giovanni earned his first ATP Tour title at the Lyon 250 event. He followed it up by defeating world no. 14 Ben Shelton at Queen’s and firing 51 aces against Sebastian Korda (ranked 21) at Wimbledon, where he reached the fourth round as a lucky loser. His season ended on an even higher note with a title at the ATP 500 in Basel, beating fellow Babolat players Félix Auger-Aliassime (19) and Holger Rune (14), then once again besting Ben Shelton in the final. Remarkably, he didn’t lose serve once all week, holding 60 of 60 service games.

By February 2025, Giovanni had cracked the Top 30, reaching world No. 29. His win at the Bordeaux Challenger in May 2025 made him a seeded player at Roland-Garros, a rising star that Team Babolat is proud to stand behind.