A QUARTET of future stars battled it out in the Swiss Indoors ATP 500 semi-finals overnight, giving fans a glimpse into what to expect over the next decade. In the end, 2024’s big improver in huge serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and American cult hero Ben Shelton booked their places in the Basel decider.

Mpetshi Perricard produced a massive win over fellow 21-year-old and fourth seed Holger Rune. The rench star entered the tournament at number 50 in the world – having risen a whopping 155 ranking spots in 2024 – and has already cracked the Top 30 by his performance in Switzerland.

Against Rune, Mpetshi Perricard served 17 aces to Rune’s five and never gave the world number 14 a chance. Standing at 203cm, Mpetshi Perricard is a handful at the best of times, but on the fast indoor surface, it is near-impossible to quell the serving machine.

The Frenchman won a massive 33 of 38 points off his first serve, and still collected 18 of 25 off his second to win a ridiculous 81 per cent of his service points. Funnily enough, Rune won 80 per cent in a strong effort and only won four less points in total, but could not conquer a break point, while the French talent did just that in the second set to be the difference.

“It’s amazing to be in the final. I played a good match today. It was difficult against Holger, but I found the key to win this match,” Mpetshi Perricard said. “Inside of me there was a lot of emotion, but I tried to calm it down. It’s nice to be in the final and I hope to get the win.”

Though there was potential for Basel to be an all-French final, Mpetshi Perricard will instead lock horns with Shelton for the title after the American ousted Mpetshi Perricard’s countryman in seventh seed Arthur Fils.

The Frenchman won the only previous encounter against Shelton at the Queen’s Club earlier this year, though he said it would mean little given the different conditions and formlines now.

“It’s always 50/50 when you step on the court. Yeah, I won [against him], but one time and it was on grass,” Mpetshi Perricard said. “Now it’s a different match. We are in the final, it’s going to be tough.

“There is a lot of emotion because both of us want to get the title. I will try my best, he will try his best, but at the end there is only one winner. It’s going to be fun.”

Shelton overcame the leading Next Gen prospect in world number 20 Fils with a 6-3 7-6 triumph. He served eight aces to Fils’ nine, but served at a far higher clip (84 to 62 per cent), which never allowed Fils momentum on return in the 6-3 7-6 triumph that took an hour and 18 minutes.

AROUND THE TOUR

Over in Vienna, Aussie Alex de Minaur was denied the chance to edge closer to eighth spot in the ATP Finals Race as red-hot Russian Karen Khachanov extended his winning streak to eight matches. Coming off a title in Almaty, the world number 24 is set to re-enter the Top 20 after reaching the Erste Bank Open final.

Khachanov won 6-2 6-4 in 90 minutes and will now take on dangerous British hope Jack Draper in the decider. The seventh seed overcame Italian sixth seed and Olympic bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti in an identical 6-2 6-4 scoreline across an hour and 49 minutes. Draper served eight aces and won 71 per cent of his first serve points, while breaking five times to two in the match.