Freak accident ends all-French clash as Arthur Gea moves past Mpetshi Perricard in Montpellier
Arthur Gea benefited from the abandonment of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (6-3) on Monday evening.
Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard, Montpellier 2025 | © Fabio Latagliata / Open Occitanie
Arthur Gea secured a place in the last 16 of the Open Occitanie on Monday evening following a bizarre and unfortunate injury to fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The 21-year-old wildcard, currently at a career-high ranking of No 168, held a 6-3 lead in the opening set when the match was cut short at the Sud de France Arena.
The 22-year-old Mpetshi Perricard, ranked No 57, was forced to retire after accidentally hitting himself in the eye with a ball following a frame-hit volley at the net.
The result continues a breakout 2026 season for Gea, who has transitioned seamlessly from the Challenger circuit to the ATP main stage. The Carpentras native has already captured a Challenger title in Noumea this January and notably stunned Jiri Lehecka during a second-round run at the Australian Open.
Machac next
His performance on Monday was authoritative even before the medical retirement, as Gea utilized his defensive range to pressure the 2.01m Mpetshi Perricard into uncomfortable positions.
“I didn’t want to win like this, especially against a friend, but I felt I was playing very solid from the baseline,” Gea said during his on-court interview. “I hope Giovanni recovers quickly because he is a great player for French tennis.”
Gea now turns his attention to a formidable second-round challenge against the No 3 seed, Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac. With his recent surge in form and a home crowd behind him, the young Frenchman remains a dark horse in the Montpellier draw.
