ATP’s Fastest Servers, American Reilly Opelka and France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, to Meet Following Round-Robin, Super Tiebreaker Featuring Quartet of Men’s Players, Including World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, Among Others
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LAS VEGAS (February 12, 2025) – MGM Resorts International has announced that two of the game’s biggest servers, American Reilly Opelka and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, will square off Sunday, March 2 in “The Ace Challenge Presented by Michelob ULTRA,” to earn the title of the game’s fastest serve. The winner will take home a cash prize as part of the “The MGM Rewards Slam” weekend at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old Opelka looks to make his way back up the ATP Tour rankings, where he reached a career high No. 17 in 2022, following nearly two years off due to injury. One day after upsetting all-time men’s Grand Slam wins leader Novak Djokovic at the Brisbane International to start the year, Opelka downed Perricard in the semifinals before pulling out of the final due to a back injury.
The six-foot-eight, 21-year-old Perricard had a breakout year in 2024 and owns a current career-high ATP ranking of No. 30. He leads the ATP Tour with an average of 19.3 aces per match and is currently ranked No. 1 with a 302.1 service rating. He made headlines earlier in the year with a booming 144 miles-per-hour serve. Last year at Wimbledon, he cracked 51 aces in one match.
In Saturday’s main event, women’s World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face off against former No. 1 Naomi Osaka for the coveted Lion’s Cup. Sabalenka, the recent Australian Open finalist from Belarus, is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion while Japan’s Osaka has earned four Grand Slam titles, including her first two back-to-back at the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Australian Open.
In Sunday’s action, men’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev and Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, ranked Nos. 4 and 9, respectively, will participate in a four-player round-robin event using 10-point tiebreakers. The two players with the highest points will compete in a Championship Tiebreak for the men’s version of the Lion’s Cup.
Tickets are on sale now via axs.com. Single-day tickets start at $55 and two-day tickets at $127.50, not including applicable service charges or fees. Room and ticket packages also are available online at The MGM Rewards Slam Packages and include premium tickets to both matches, luxury accommodations, and more.
“The MGM Rewards Slam” is presented by MGM Resorts Live Event Ventures, which is focused on seeking out and creating new-to-market live sports and entertainment programming including LPGA T-Mobile Match Play and Players Era Festival, to name a few.
ABOUT MGM REWARDS
MGM Rewards is MGM Resorts International’s premier lifestyle loyalty program that allows members to earn benefits and rewards for virtually every dollar they spend throughout the company’s domestic destinations in Las Vegas, Detroit, Atlantic City, Mississippi, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. MGM Rewards members have the benefit of earning MGM Rewards Points based on eligible non-gaming and gaming spend and redeemable for complimentary food and beverage, entertainment, hotel stays, and more. Additionally, seamless integration between MGM Rewards and BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, unlocks even more benefits, including the ability to earn rewards for online BetMGM play, Tier Credits toward MGM Rewards tier advancement and access to tailored offers and real-world experiences across MGM Resorts and BetMGM. For more information, visit mgmrewards.com.
ABOUT MICHELOB ULTRA ARENA
The Michelob ULTRA Arena is a multi-purpose arena home to World Championship Boxing, premier concerts and special events. With seating for as many as 12,000, the entertainment venue offers excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art lighting and sound. Home to the WNBA multiple-time-champion Las Vegas Aces, the venue also has hosted prominent concerts and events including Justin Timberlake, KISS, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, John Mayer, Metallica, Journey, Iron Maiden, Marc Anthony, New Kids on the Block and Alejandro Fernandez, among others. World championship boxing events have featured fighters including Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao. The Michelob ULTRA Arena also has been home to multiple Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, the annual Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction and the Latin Billboard Music Awards.
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MGM Resorts Public Relations
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Steve Pratt, stevep@bzapr.com
BZA PR for MGM Resorts International
