David Goffin has won his second round match in Antwerp. Playing in his native Belgium the 26 year-old defeated the United States’ Frances Tiafoe 7-6,6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals.
Goffin edged a tight first set that had seen Tiafoe draw first blood with a break in the third game. The top seed quickly recovered, retrieving the break immediately though Tiafoe continued to apply pressure.
It ultimately turned into a set of missed opportunities for the young American as Tiafoe squandered five break point chances including one in the tenth game before being blown away in the tiebreak.
Goffin’s experience told. After securing the opener the home favourite was all over the teenager, breaking immediately in the second set. Tiafoe’s challenge quickly faded and Goffin added some gloss to the second set with another break.
Goffin will play young Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals after the teenager was the beneficiary of a retirement win over Ivo Karlovic. Tsitsipas had led 7-6, 5-6 when Karlovic ended the tie.
4th seed Diego Schwartzmann continued his strong end to the season with a 6-3, 7-6 win over another Next Gen Finals hopeful Ernesto Escobedo. He awaits the winner of the final second round match between Steve Darcis and David Ferrer.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga eased past qualifier Kenny De Schepper with a 6-4, 6-3 win, ensuring that the popular Frenchman features in his second consecutive ATP quarter-final having reached the same stage in St Petersburg last time 0ut.
Tsonga’s draw has opened up as 3rd seed Nick Kyrgios is out after a stunning loss to Ruben Bemelmans yesterday. Tsonga had been expected to face 8th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in the last eight, but the Ukrainian suffered a shock loss to Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen in the first round. Tsonga will instead face veteran compatriot Julien Benneteau.
