Fifth seed Taylor Fritz will have to wait another day to complete his tense Wimbledon first-round match against France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard after play was suspended late Monday night due to the tournament’s strict 11 p.m. curfew.
With the score locked at two sets apiece, the players stopped after 10:15 p.m. under the closed roof and artificial lights on No. 1 Court. They will resume their deciding fifth set on Tuesday.
Mpetshi Perricard, who unleashed a tournament-record 153 mph (246 kph) serve in the opening game, claimed the first two sets in tight tiebreakers 7-6 (6), 7-6 (8). Fritz fought back to take the third 6-4 and saved the match in the fourth by winning another tiebreak 7-6 (6).
New Wimbledon Serving Record
At 6-foot-8, the towering Frenchman brought his firepower early, breaking the previous Wimbledon speed record of 148 mph set by Taylor Dent in 2010.
Remarkably, Fritz managed to put that record-breaking return in play—and even win the point—showing his skill against one of the most imposing serves on tour.
The match was a serving showcase overall. Before play stopped, Mpetshi Perricard fired 33 aces to Fritz’s 24. Neither player faced a break point in the first two sets, and although Fritz earned five chances across the match, he converted just one. Mpetshi Perricard did not see a single break point opportunity in four sets.
Dramatic Fourth-Set Tiebreak
As the clock ticked toward the curfew, Mpetshi Perricard seemed close to victory, leading 5-2 in the fourth-set tiebreak. But he couldn’t close it out. Fritz reeled him back to 6-all before clinching the next two points.
Celebrating with a yell of “Let’s (expletive) go! Come on!” and pounding his chest, the American forced the decider at about 10:15 p.m.
The players then met at the net with an official to discuss the curfew. Ultimately, the chair umpire announced to the crowd:
“Ladies and gentlemen, due to the late time of the day, we will not be able to finish the match. Therefore the match will be suspended until tomorrow.”
Fritz appeared visibly frustrated by the timing, gesturing toward his guest box with his palms up and saying: “I couldn’t do anything. I tried.”
Zverev Match Also Halted at Centre Court
Monday’s late finishes weren’t limited to No. 1 Court. Over on Centre Court, play also stopped due to the curfew in the match between No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev and France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
They split two tiebreak sets before the halt: Rinderknech took the first 7-6 (3), and Zverev leveled with a 7-6 (8) second set before the clock ran out at 10:54 p.m.
Background on the Players
Fritz, 27, from California, is no stranger to Wimbledon’s later rounds. He reached the quarterfinals in 2022 (losing to Rafael Nadal) and again in 2023 (falling to Lorenzo Musetti).
Mpetshi Perricard, 21, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year—also eliminated by Musetti.
Their match resumes Tuesday, with both looking to claim a place in the second round after an explosive opening encounter that’s already seen history made with the fastest serve ever recorded at Wimbledon.