Auger-Aliassime Faces Mpetshi Perricard in Stuttgart Showdown

STUTTGART, Germany — The marquee matchup of the BOSS Open‘s second round will feature Felix Auger-Aliassime against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Thursday afternoon. This is the third meeting between the two players.

Mpetshi Perricard, coming off a first-round victory where he displayed his impressive serve, defeated Roman Safiullin in a close match, 7-6(10), 3-6, 7-5. With 26 aces logged during that match, the 21-year-old Frenchman is recognized for having one of the strongest serves on the tour. He previously made headlines during his Wimbledon debut last summer, reaching the fourth round as a lucky loser.

Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 4 in the tournament, will seek to turn his fortunes around after a difficult start to the season. This will mark his first grass-court match of the year, which adds to the tension of this encounter. Earlier this year, he defeated Mpetshi Perricard on the red clay of Hamburg, 6-2, 6-4, but lost their first showdown last fall on the indoor hard courts of Basel, 6-1, 7-6(6).

This matchup is significant as it takes place on grass, a surface where both players excel. A victory for Mpetshi Perricard could be seen as an upset given Auger-Aliassime’s past successes. Predictions are leaning towards Mpetshi Perricard taking this match, with expectations of a close contest.

Another match to watch is the all-American clash between Brandon Nakashima and Learner Tien on Thursday. This will be the first meeting between the two as well. At just 19 years old, Tien recently played his first grass-court match and appears promising. He is looking to make his mark against the more experienced Nakashima, who has a solid record on grass.

The BOSS Open boasts a prize money of 751,630 Euros and is seen as a critical event leading into Wimbledon later this month. Players are eager to gain valuable points, as the tournament features 250 ranking points for the winners.