- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Saturday, April 27, 2024
- Tennis Balls Favorite Photographer and Producer Rob Stone Premieres THE Blue Angels IMAX Film!
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Friday, April 26, 2024
- It’s a Girl! Belinda Bencic Welcomes Daughter to the World
- Nadal kicks off Mutua Madrid Open campaign with easy win over Blanch
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Thursday, April 25, 2024
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Wednesday, April 24, 2024
- Novak Djokovic Earns 5th Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Tuesday, April 23, 2024
- Rafael Nadal Commits to 2024 Laver Cup
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Monday, April 22, 2024
- Casper Ruud Tops Stefanos Tsitsipas for Barcelona Title
- Former World No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza Retires
- Fritz Flies Into First Clay-Court Final in Munich
- Munich Open Schedule and Draws for Sunday, April 21, 2024
Goffin Beats Thiem • Into London Semifinal Lineup That Is Winless Against The Mighty Roger Federer
- Updated: November 17, 2017
David Goffin of Belgium in action against Dominic Thiem of Austria during their round robin match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 17 November 2017. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER
By Ricky Dimon
Roger Federer was a huge title favorite going into the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, and certainly going into Friday’s virtual quarterfinal clash between David Goffin and Dominic Thiem. He is an ever bigger favorite now.
Goffin took down Thiem–the only remaining player who has ever defeated Federer–6-4, 6-1 to set up a semifinal showdown against the second-ranked Swiss on Saturday. The Belgian took 12 of the last 14 games against Thiem to cruise in just one hour and 11 minutes.
After falling into a quick 3-0 hole, Goffin reeled off five games in a row–a stretch that included a 14-0 run of points. Thiem finally got back on the scoreboard with a hold for 4-5, but Goffin held to 30 in the 10th game to wrap up the opening frame of play.
It was all but over for Thiem when he dropped serve at 1-1 in the third. In fact, the erratic Austrian was broken in each of his final three service games, the last of which ended his stay in London. Thiem had previously come close to breaking Goffin at 4-1, but the world No. 8 survive that game after eight deuces and four break points.
“I didn’t panic after the first three games,” Goffin explained. “I knew in the past I have the return to break him. I knew I will have some opportunity to break him.I did it right after the first three games. After that, I started to feel much better with my return, and I played well [the rest of the] first set.”
His reward is a seventh career meeting with Federer, who is dominating the head-to-head series 6-0 and 14-2 in total sets.
“I’ve never found a key to beat Roger,” Goffin admitted. “Honestly, I don’t know what to do tomorrow.”
And although the underdog is more than worthy of respect, why not look ahead to Federer’s almost certain appearance in Sunday’s championship? After all, Federer is just betterer than everyone else in London this week. Assuming he takes care of Goffin, the following numbers will come into play: Federer is also 6-0 against Grigor Dimitrov and 4-0 against Jack Sock. He is 36-5 in total sets against the other three semifinalists.
Thiem, meanwhile, is a surprising 2-1 in the head-to-head against Federer. But Thiem is gone. And in all likelihood, Goffin will be gone tomorrow.