🇷🇺 Roman Safiullin vs 🇫🇷 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

🎾 ATP Stuttgart – First Round

🇷🇺 Roman Safiullin vs 🇫🇷 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

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🧠 Form & Context

Roman Safiullin

• 🔄 Trying to reset: Just 9 wins in 2025 (9–12 record), with early exits in Madrid, Rome, and Roland-Garros.
• 🌱 Grass-court experience: 13–9 career record on the surface, but no match wins on grass so far in 2025.
• 🇩🇪 Stuttgart struggles: Lost in R1 last year and failed to qualify in 2022–23.
• 🔧 Still a dangerous all-court player when on rhythm, but confidence and momentum are lacking at the moment.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

• 📈 Rising quickly: 21-year-old has climbed into the top 40 with aggressive performances in 2024–25.
• 🚀 Power game: 6–1 clay record this year, 5–5 on hard, and 1–0 start on grass after win in Hamburg.
• 💪 Recent scalps: Beat Auger Aliassime and Bublik in Hamburg; strong challenger runs this spring.
• 📊 12–5 career record on grass is respectable, but Stuttgart main draw history is limited to last year’s R1 loss.

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🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a classic contrast of styles. Safiullin has a solid all-round baseline game with decent court craft and smooth transitions. However, he lacks the raw firepower that Mpetshi Perricard brings to fast surfaces like grass.

The young Frenchman’s booming serve and forehand make him a nightmare to face on grass. He hits through the court, and his win over Bublik in Hamburg showcased his improved shot tolerance and poise under pressure.

Safiullin has better variety and is more comfortable rallying, but he’ll struggle to break serve or neutralize Mpetshi Perricard’s rhythm unless he returns exceptionally well. If this becomes a serve-dominated contest, the Frenchman holds the aces.

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🔮 Prediction

Mpetshi Perricard's upward trajectory, combined with his recent form and confidence on faster surfaces, makes him the clear favorite. Safiullin is capable of clutch moments, but the matchup doesn’t suit him.

✅ Pick: Mpetshi Perricard to win in straight sets – a few tight moments, but the serve will carry the Frenchman through
🎯 Bonus leans:

• Set betting: Mpetshi Perricard 2–0
• Over/Under: Under 23.5 games (if tiebreak avoided)
• Handicap: Mpetshi Perricard -3.5 games