David Goffin secured a 6-3 6-3 6-2 victory over Paolo Lorenzi to book Belgium’s place in the semifinals of the Davis Cup.
In the first set Goffin served well and moved the Italian around the court with ease. The veteran Italian had to endure long service holds and had to take risks in order to break Goffin’s momentum. It was a stunning first set which involved long rallies and sensational shot making on what was a fast indoor hard court in Charleroi. The break eventually came in the eighth game for the patient Belgian, through a forehand down the line, he would hold in the next game to seal the first set 6-3. The Italian struggled to overpower Goffin and as a result came out second best in the opening set.
The second set saw a stunning break of serve for Goffin in the first game, as a lucky lob sealed the early advantage over a frustrated Paolo Lorenzi. However Lorenzi’s resilience paid off as a Goffin miscued forehand lead to an error and Lorenzi broke back for 2-2. The Italian was battling desperately to keep his country’s Davis Cup hopes alive. However this was only a blip in Goffin’s surge to victory as Lorenzi misfired his backhand to give the Belgian another break of serve for a 3-2 lead. As Lorenzi started to tire out, Goffin broke in the ninth game to seal the second set 6-3.
The Italian decided to vary his shots more at the start of the third set, however to no luck as Goffin overpowered Lorenzi in the fourth game to break for a 3-1 lead. However Lorenzi realised his situation and adjusted his game and broke to love in a stunning game to pull the set back on serve. However Lorenzi was just delaying the inevitable as Goffin won the next three games and a forehand down the line secured the victory to book Belgium’s place in the semifinals of the Davis Cup.
Belgium will now play Australia at home in the Semifinals of the Davis Cup in September.
