ATP Finals: Grigor Dimitrov books semi-final spot with crushing win over David Goffin

17:47 · WED November 15, 2017

by Andy Schooler, at The O2

Just two days after a career-best win over Rafael Nadal, David Goffin suffered a chastening experience at the ATP Finals, winning just two games in defeat to Grigor Dimitrov.

The Belgian was torn apart by Dimitrov, who won the first nine games in a 6-0 6-2 victory, one which booked his place in the semi-finals as group winner. He will therefore avoid Roger Federer in the last four.

With the slick surface helping his game, Dimitrov was the aggressor from the start, the Bulgarian making regular forays towards the net in the early stages.

He broke serve at the first opportunity and it soon became clear Goffin was in for a tough day with even the net cord working against him when break point down at 0-3.

Despite getting just 36 per cent of his first serves in play, Dimitrov swept through to set in just 27 minutes, much to the delight of a strong contingent of his fans in the O2 Arena.

"You get a few days when everything you touch turns into gold and that first set was one of those days," a delighted Dimitrov told the crowd afterwards. He was not wrong.

Pete Sampras Group standings

Q1 Grigor Dimitrov 2-0 (4-1; 30-17)
David Goffin 1-1 (2-3; 21-29)
Dominic Thiem 0-1 (1-2; 15-18)
Pablo Carreno Busta 0-0 (0-0; 0-0)
Rafael Nadal 0-1 (1-2; 17-19) - withdrew

Goffin was unable to turn the tide early in the second set either with double faults which hurt him during his win over Nadal returning in the second game as Dimitrov’s game-winning streak continued.

He did create a chance to break back in the following game only for Dimitrov to come forward again to smash an attempted lob away.

It was a tough day at the office for David Goffin

Not even a violation for receiving coaching from the sidelines could shift Dimitrov’s focus and he managed to hold in a nine-minute game to make it 4-1.

That proved to be Goffin’s last real chance of getting back into a match in which he was thoroughly outplayed.

The stats told much of the story; while Dimitrov hit 18 winners and only 11 unforced errors, Goffin's figures were nine and 28 respectively.

The good news for Goffin is that victory in his final group match against Dominic Thiem on Friday will still be good enough for him to join Dimitrov in the last four.

First #NittoATPFinals. First semi-final secured.@GrigorDimitrov cruises to the latter stages in London, beating David Goffin 6-0 6-2. pic.twitter.com/j51kvI5sIe
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 15, 2017

What the players said

Grigor Dimitrov

"I think the beginning of the match really set up the tone for the whole, yeah, match. I think early on I just really went for my shots. I created opportunities. I used those opportunities. Just everything I felt I was trying to do really paid off.

"To be able to be consistent against one of the top guys for that amount of period was great for me. I think it helps me. It helps me also to realise what I've done good and what's working and what's not."

David Goffin

"We started the match really well from both sides. We had a lot of good rallies. It was a great intensity from the start.

"But he played well. He was a little bit more aggressive. He came to the net from the beginning, from the first point.

"In the second (set) I had some opportunities to come back, to break back, but he was really solid. He served well. He was really solid until the end of the match.

"As a tennis player, normally you lose almost every week. It's just another loss. The most important thing is to think about the next match."