- Chrissie Evert Begins Chemotherapy and Will Miss ESPN’s Australian Open Coverage
- Australian Open entry list: Nadal in with protected ranking, No. 97 cutoff
- Tim Henman Plays Tennis for 24 Hours to Benefit Children’s Charity
- Caroline Wozniacki and Six Aussies Receive 2024 Australian Open Wild Cards
- 2024 Brisbane event includes Nadal, Murray, Dimitrov, and Osaka
- Rafael Nadal Announces Brisbane Return
- Alicia Molik Named Adelaide International Tournament Director
- Defending Champion Tiafoe Returning for U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship
- Including doubles, Sinner defeats Djokovic three times in 11 days
- Sinner the hero as Italy captures first Davis Cup title since 1976
- Dana Mathewson Wins Two Gold Medals at the Parapan American Games
- Gambill: Wayne Arthurs One of Top 3 Servers
- Davis Cup Finals Draws and Schedule for Sunday, November 26, 2023
- Stars Set for LA Tennis Bash on December 9th to Benefit First Break Academy
- SOLINCO NEW RACQUETS THE WHITEOUT AND BLACKOUT XTD+
Belgian Tennis Star David Goffin Snags Seventh Spot • Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, Del Potro & Isner Still In Race
- Updated: November 2, 2017
Belgium’s David Goffin in action against Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their semifinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 28 October 2017. EPA-EFE/ALEXANDRA WEY
Goffin snags seventh spot in World Tour Finals, Del Potro and Isner stay alive
By Ricky Dimon
David Goffin needed either a win of his own or a loss by Lucas Pouille at the Rolex Paris Masters on Thursday in order to clinch a spot in the upcoming Nitto ATP World Tour Finals. He did not get a win, but he did get the necessary help.
Following a 6-3, 6-3 third-round loss to Julien Benneteau, Goffin eventually saw Pouille bow out to Jack Sock 7-6(6), 6-3. The latter result propelled the Belgian to his first-ever World Tour Finals qualification. He is the seventh qualifier, leaving one more available spot that could be determined on Friday afternoon.
“I would have preferred to have qualified by winning my match,” Goffin explained. “Lucas is a friend, but I am still so happy to have qualified. It is every player’s dream to make the (World Tour) Finals and it is my first time [qualifying], so I can’t wait to get to London.”
The world No. 10 was an alternate at the year-end championship in 2016 and played one match after Gael Monfils withdrew.
Goffin joins a field that already includes Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic, and Grigor Dimitrov. The remaining contenders for the eighth and final spot are Pablo Carreno Busta, Juan Martin Del Potro, John Isner, and Jack Sock. Carreno Busta lost his first match in Paris, so he can only sit back and watch what happens with Del Potro, Isner, and Sock.
Del Potro and Isner will go head-to-head in a crucial quarterfinal showdown on Friday. The 17th-ranked Argentine clinches a place in London with a victory, while the 6’10” American must beat Del Potro and eventually capture the Paris title. Sock must also lift the Paris trophy in order to qualify.
Respective third-round victories over Robin Haase and Grigor Dimitrov kept hope alive for Del Potro and Isner.
“It’s extra motivation to me,” the 2009 U.S. Open champion said of a potential place at the O2 Arena in two weeks. “It’s going to be a good battle next round trying to qualify for London…. Of course I would love to reach London for once again. It could be a fantastic moment for me. But it’s still a really hard challenge.”