ATP Finals: David Goffin aims to use experience to ensure he backs up Roger Federer upset win
by Andy Schooler, at The O2
David Goffin is aiming to learn from a chastening experience earlier this week as he bids to triumph in Sunday’s final at the ATP Finals.
The Belgian is enjoying arguably the best week of his career having already toppled the world’s top two – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – en route to the title match.
However, his victory over Nadal in the group stage of the tournament was followed just two days later by a 6-0 6-2 loss to Grigor Dimitrov, one of two men he could face on Sunday, the other being Jack Sock.
Goffin is now aiming to learn lessons of failing to back-up a career-best day against Nadal given that he goes into the final having just defeated Federer in the last four.
“I will try to use this experience,” he said.
“It was not easy to play after Rafa. But tomorrow it's a final, so it is something different. There will be a lot of emotion. It is a final.
“If I play Grigor or Jack, it doesn't matter. A final is a final. You have to go for it, to go for the trophy. I will try to do like today, to be really aggressive and try to win the match.”
History would suggest Goffin would prefer to play Sock, against whom he holds a 3-0 head-to-head record, most recently beating him in Basel last month. Against Dimtrov, he trails 4-1 at main-tour level following their match a few days ago, 7-1 if you throw in lower-level events from their younger days.
“If it's Grigor, against him I hope to play the tennis I played today,” added the 26-year-old, who after Sunday’s final must head to Lille for next week’s Davis Cup final.
“I'll try to be more aggressive, also go for the shot, and go for the trophy.
“We will see. I will try something different than in the group. But it won't be difficult to do better than on Wednesday.
“If it's Jack, I'm sure I have the game to beat him because I did it in Basel. I can take the ball early. I can make him run a lot. He likes to have time to play some heavy forehands. I play faster. I take the ball early. He has a lot of backhands to hit. I'm sure he doesn't like to play against me.
“We will see. It's a final. So against both players, it will be tough.”
Whoever he faces, Goffin will have a good chance of lifting the trophy, according to Federer.
"Clearly I believe he's got a chance," said the beaten man.
"(It's a) totally different match. It's really difficult to back it up after you beat someone like Rafa. We saw it in the next match. Somebody like me, it's the same situation. It's just a different match, a different atmosphere.
"I'm very happy for him. He's a great guy. I like him a lot. I think today he played so nice that he deserves to be in the finals. That's what I told him at the net, as well. I hope he can play a good finals tomorrow."
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