“Honestly, I don’t know what to do tomorrow.” That was the quote from David Goffin after winning his final round-robin match at the Nitto ATP Finals on Friday knowing he would be playing Roger Federer in Saturday’s semi-finals.
Well, he certainly figured out what to do, although it took him a set to do so. After a disappointing start, Goffin suddenly turned his game around and was a different player in the final two sets. The World No.8 stunned the capacity crowd at O2 arena in London ,defeating Federer 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Just the fifth loss in 57 matches for the World No 2 in 2017 and a disappointing way to finish what’s been a fantastic year after winning two Grand Slams, seven titles in all coming off knee surgery a year ago.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Goffin who looked like he was going to be run out of the arena after dropping the first set in just 33 minutes. Federer was on his game hitting several spectacular groundstroke winners and breaking Goffin in two of his four service games.
Suddenly though, in the second set things turned around for Goffin and went the other way for Federer. A bad decision approaching the net gave Goffin an opening and his forehand winner blew past the Swiss star and gave him an early break to go up 2-0. Federer won just 50-percent of his second serve points while Goffin held serve the rest of the way and took the set 6-3.
In the third it was more from Goffin. He broke early again, this time in the third game after some poor play from Federer which included a double fault and a pair of shots that sailed long. The Belgian served well and won 16 of 18 points on his first serve in the set and he allowed Federer to have just one break point opportunity. With double match point against him Federer failed to return a first serve and the victory belonged to Goffin.
It was a stunning result as the 36-year old Federer had swept all six of their previous meetings and Goffin had won just two of the 16 sets they had played. Federer had also just recently crushed Goffin 6-1, 6-2 in the semi-finals in Basel.
“I just felt like I was never quite feeling it 100%,” said Federer. “Look, it is what it is now. There’s no need to dwell over it, especially when it’s the last match of the season. I wish I could have played more aggressive today but just never really felt comfortable taking the ball on.”
Goffin is just the sixth player to defeat Federer and Rafael Nadal in the same tournament and he is also becomes the first player to beat the top two players at the ATP Finals since 2009 when Nikolay Davydenko beat No. 2 Nadal in group play and No. 1 Federer in the semi-finals on route to winning the title.
“The semi-final for the first time for me here, and to beat Roger for the first time here in such a big event, big tournament, it was the perfect moment,” said the 26-year old. “It is the best win of my career for sure”
Goffin will now play in the biggest Final of his career on Sunday. He has won four career titles including two in 2017 but none would be bigger than hoisting the trophy on Sunday night.
As to whether he would like to face Grigor Dimitrov or Jack Sock in Sunday’s Final.
“If you watched some matches this week you know the answer,” said Goffin.
@Sportshorn
