David Goffin opens well in Rome by defeating 12th seed Hurkacz | Internacional BNLD Italy

The born-again Goffin couldn’t believe his luck last week: he may have missed 4 match balls against Nadal, but after over 3 hours 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (11/9) he felt like the player again from last year . This is after several difficult months.

Our number 48 continued that momentum today against seed 11. The two had to clear some break points, Pole 5 and Belgian 4. In the tiebreak, Goffin faced 3 set points, but he turned the tables and cashed the second set ball.

Goffin’s serve was a little lower in the second set, but now he’s able to score a break: 3-5. He was allowed to serve in the match, but got a run back on his plate.

With a 4-5 lead, Goffin got a match ball, but it wasn’t the right ball. Hurkacz went to the tiebreak again. Goffin was the coach in their first mutual duel: from 6/1 she moved from 6/1 on the third ball to 7/2.

In the next round awaits American Jenson Broxby (ATP-38), who opened with a two-set win (6-3, 6-4) against Italian wildcard Flavio Coppoli (ATP-150). This will also be Goffin’s first time.

With the overall victory in Marrakesh in April, our 31-year-old has gone through a long string of very challenging months, breaking a few pots and falling further and further into the ATP rankings.

“It was a tough match, especially after Madrid,” David Goffin said after his victory. “The conditions were different, because at heights the ball is easier to leave. Here it moves much slower, the balls are heavier.”

“Today it was difficult to finish the points, especially because Hubi is big and is progressing well. He is also doing very well.”

“So I had to stay focused, which I did very well until 7-6, 5-3. And suddenly I got some less shots in the beginning, he was more aggressive, I missed one or two forehands and I had to fight in the inning. The tiebreaker. Fortunately I played a very good tiebreaker to the finish.”

“That’s a big win for me. Maybe not his favorite surface, but it makes me feel good. I feel so much better, I have more confidence in my qualities and that’s the most important thing at the moment. And I’m going to continue in this tournament, which is smiling at me.”