During his first appearance at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was unable to defeat Daniil Medvedev, but his popularity in the tournament allowed him to hold his head high. Perricard, who is considered one of the most promising and talented players on the ATP tour, displayed admirable performance against the sixth-ranked player in the world, Medvedev, on the main court in the round of 16 match, where he lost 4-6, 4-6.
The impact of the 21-year-old player was significant. He consistently delivered powerful serves at speeds exceeding 230 km/h, yet he couldn't challenge the titleholder of Dubai 2023, who showcased exceptional mastery in response to powerful strikes, denying the Frenchman a chance to progress to the quarter-finals.
Despite the defeat, Perricard garnered numerous fans, including nine-year-old Macar, who traveled from France specifically to see his favorite player. Macar, the most passionate fan of Perricard, supported his tennis player throughout the entire 82-minute match, waiting for an autograph from his idol.
However, Macar's expectation remained unfulfilled, which disappointed him, reflected on his face. The boy was eager to have Perricard sign his cap, but the organizers of the tournament and ATP representatives did everything possible to ensure that Macar did not leave disappointed, and by the end of the event, he managed to receive a personal letter signed by Perricard on his favorite cap.
When Macar received the signed cap, a wide smile appeared on his face. His father, Benjamin, said in an interview: "Macar also wants to become a tennis player, so this was a remarkable experience for him and a great motivation to see players like Djokovic."
