Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s return to competitive action ended in unfortunate fashion on Tuesday, as the Frenchman was forced to retire from his opening match at the Open Occitanie in Montpellier following a freak eye injury.
The 22-year-old was competing in his first match since his early exit at the Australian Open, hoping to reset his season. Instead, his comeback was cut short by an accident that left both player and crowd stunned.
Freak Moment Changes the Match
Facing fellow Frenchman Arthur Gea in the first round, Mpetshi Perricard was already struggling to find his rhythm when the incident occurred late in the opening set. Trailing 3–5 and approaching the net, he attempted what appeared to be a routine volley.
The ball, however, ricocheted off his racket and struck him in the eye. He immediately dropped to the court in visible pain, clutching his face as medical staff rushed to assist.
Play was halted while Mpetshi Perricard received treatment during a medical timeout.
Brief Return Before Retirement
After several minutes of attention, Mpetshi Perricard attempted to continue the match. Despite returning to the court, his discomfort was evident, and his eye appeared badly affected.
Gea went on to close out the opening set 6–3. Shortly afterwards, Mpetshi Perricard signalled that he was unable to continue, officially retiring from the match and bringing an abrupt end to the contest in Montpellier.
Arthur Gea Reacts With Sympathy
Arthur Gea, who progressed to the next round, expressed his concern for his compatriot following the match.
“It’s never easy to see a friend like this,” Gea said afterwards. “It’s never easy to see this happen.”
The atmosphere on court reflected the seriousness of the moment, with the focus quickly shifting away from the result to Mpetshi Perricard’s condition.
Another Setback in a Frustrating Run
The retirement adds to a difficult stretch for Mpetshi Perricard, who began the season with promising quarter-final runs in Auckland and Brisbane. However, those performances have since been followed by consecutive first-round exits at the Australian Open and now in Montpellier.
What was meant to be an opportunity to regain momentum after Melbourne instead turned into another setback, underlining how quickly fortunes can change in professional tennis.
Looking Ahead
There has been no immediate update on the severity of the injury or how long Mpetshi Perricard may be sidelined. Given the freak nature of the incident, attention will now turn to his recovery and whether he can return to competition in the coming weeks.
For the young Frenchman, the Montpellier exit serves as a harsh reminder that even routine moments on court can have unpredictable consequences.
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