Fritz falls to big-serving Mpetshi Perricard in Shanghai | Sports

SHANGHAI, Oct 5, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The United States' Taylor Fritz on Sunday became the highest-ranked player to be dumped out of the Shanghai Masters, falling to 37th-ranked Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 7-5. On a hot and humid afternoon, the world number four seemed lethargic and struggled to get into his stride, unnerved after Mpetshi Perricard nearly broke twice in the fifth game. That preempted a streak of brilliance that saw the neon orange-clad Frenchman fire three aces to hold the sixth, then break in the seventh. A closely fought second set came to a head in the 11th game when a double fault by Fritz handed Mpetshi Perricard the advantage, which he swiftly converted with a backhand. Finishing the...