Nick Kyrgios drawn against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in exciting singles match-up

Nick Kyrgios’ singles comeback in Brisbane will launch against a supersized young Frenchman who just won the ATP Tour’s most improved player.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is 21 years old, 203 centimetres tall – or six-foot-eight – climbed more than 170 ranking spots to No.31 this year, and averaged almost six aces per match more than any of his peers.

Nick Kyrgios will play Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Brisbane International. Credit: Getty

Everyone from John Isner to Andy Roddick is having their say on the player becoming known as tennis’ answer to burgeoning NBA superstar and fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama.

Kyrgios had already booked a hitting session before the draw was released with American giant Reilly Opelka, another of the tour’s top servers, to test his surgically repaired wrist, which has sidelined him for the past 18 months.

Click here to read article