BASEL, Switzerland (AP) 鈥� Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard completed a perfect week on serve by upsetting American Ben Shelton to win the Swiss Indoors on Sunday.
The French player, who is ranked No. 50, prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (4) against the sixth-seeded Shelton to become the lowest-ranked champion since the tournament became a tour-level event in 1975.
Mpetshi Perricard did not drop serve all week in Basel, winning all 60 of his service games and having to fend off just three break points 鈥� all in his quarterfinal match against Denis Shapovalov.
He also served up 22 aces against Shelton on his way to taking his first ATP 500 trophy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to win a tournament like that. A 500 for the first time for me,鈥� Mpetshi Perricard said. 鈥淚 just can be happy with myself, with what I did today and the past five days.
"It鈥檚 amazing to win here ... (before this) it was a tough month for me, but it鈥檚 always good when the victories are there.鈥�
Mpetshi Perricard started the year ranked 200, won several challenger titles and his first ATP-level title in Lyon in May.
The 21-year-old will rise to a career-high ranking of No. 31 on Monday.
Shelton鈥檚 run this week has guaranteed the American鈥檚 return to the top 20 from No. 23.
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AP tennis:
The Associated Press
