On Monday night at Wimbledon, on Court No. 1, where the roof was closed, fifth-seeded American Taylor Fritz’s match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was suspended after four sets because of the tournament’s 11 p. m. curfew.

Mpetshi Perricard won the first two sets 7-6 (6), 7-6 (8) and Fritz the third and fourth 6-4, 7-6 (6).

The 6’8” Frenchman struck a Wimbledon-record 153 mph serve in the first game, breaking the previous Wimbledon record for fastest serve of 148 mph held by Taylor Dent in 2010.

On Tuesday afternoon, they resumed on Court 1, this time with the roof open.  

REUTERS-Andrew Couldridge

Each player held serve until the tenth game, when the American was able to break. Serving at 4-5, Mpetshi Perricard opened with a double-fault. After a long rally, Fritz then hit a forehand crosscourt winner for love-30. Mpetshi Perricard then sailed a wild forehand long. Love-40. On match point, the Frenchman sailed another forehand long.

Fritz is playing exceptionally well on grass this year. He won Stuttgart and Eastbourne, becoming the first American man to win multiple Tour-level titles on grass in the same year since 1999, when Sampras won the titles at both Queen’s and Wimbledon.

In his post-match press conference, Fritz said that he obviously wanted to play last night.

“That’s just because I do feel we had the time to play the fifth set last night. If we didn’t have the time, then I understand there’s no point of starting it. We could have played if we both agreed to play.

“I think he didn’t want to. That’s totally understandable. I wasn’t bothered or I guess upset at him for not wanting to play. I totally, like, get it.

“But I still felt confident. I think it would have been easy for me to get frustrated about not being able to play last night. To be honest, I felt confident going into the fifth set if it was last night or today.

“I had to tell myself he’s going to be sleeping on what just happened in the fourth set. I’m going to come back and keep doing what I was doing.”

Fritz said of the conditions today: “Obviously with the roof open there’s going to be a little bit of wind, just a bit. I do feel like the roof closed probably helped him a lot because the ball is just not moving at all. There’s nothing affecting the ball. It’s very easy to tee off, strike it. That’s how I’ve always felt with the roof closed, as well.”

About that record-breaking serve that Mpetshi Perricard hit and that Fritz was able to return and win the point, the American said: “I don’t really mind it because it actually gives me absolutely zero time to think. Normally when I start thinking, that’s when I mess things up (smiling).

“The fact that it’s just all reflexes. I think that’s one of the things I do better in my return game, when I like to stand close, chip, holding a backhand grip. It’s just handsy and it’s reflexes. I’d much rather deal with the speed than the spot.”