A year ago, David Goffin showed the best version of himself on the Wimbledon lawn. Our compatriot reached the quarterfinals, but this light heralded a long free fall.
Goffin has struggled with ailments and his form has fallen out of the world’s top 100 this year. With another brilliant performance in London, he hoped to dig himself out of the quagmire. His first two rounds were promising, in the third an angry customer was waiting for Andrei Rublev.
Rublev, as always, actively started the game. While Goffin was still searching for his rhythm, the Russian was twice served by our compatriot. One break was eliminated, but the group went to Rublev: 6-3.
In the second set, Goffin was able to put more pressure on his opponent. After two set points were cleared, Goffin forced a tiebreaker. In it, he again took two set points, after which he finished with an accuracy: 6-7 (6/8).
It seemed that Goffin left, because in the third set he quickly led 1-4 with very good tennis. But our compatriot didn’t find much stability in his game and eventually delivered the entire set. Rublev won the third set after another tiebreak: 7-6 (7/5).
With Goffin it looked like the fattening of the soup, Rublev took advantage and steamed without hindrance. The Russian could easily win the fourth set: 6-2, the end of the story for Goffin. Thus all Belgians are eliminated in the singles in London.
Goffin replied to our man immediately “It was a nice fight against Rublev who was very strong on the grass”. “Gradually I started to absorb his hard hits better, but from the third set he started to raise his own level.”
“I lost my momentum a bit and he hit some great shots. The third set was the turning point. I played really well, but in the end it just slipped in my head, it’s such a shame.”
“Overall it was a positive game, and I have to build on this further. We’re all convinced I have no business outside of the top hundred, but I’m doing everything I can to fight back.”
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