20TH STRAIGHT WIN GIVES GOFFIN 1ST ATP TITLE VS. FELLOW FIRST-TIME FINALIST THIEM BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 2nd August 2014

20TH STRAIGHT WIN GIVES GOFFIN 1ST ATP TITLE VS. FELLOW FIRST-TIME FINALIST THIEM BY RICKY DIMON

epa04338733 David Goffin of Belgium poses with his trophy after beating Dominic Thiem of Austria in their final match at the ATP tennis tournament in Kitzbuehel, Austria, 02 August 2014. Goffin won 4-6, 6-1 and 6-3. EPA/EXPA/JOHANN GRODER |

Twenty matches since Wimbledon. Twenty wins for David Goffin.

The first 15 of those 20 earned him three consecutive Challenger titles, but the most recent five this week were the ones that mattered most. Five more victories for Goffin on the clay courts of Kitzbuhel gave Goffin his first career ATP title at the bet-at-home Cup. The 23-year-old Belgian capped it off on Saturday with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Dominic Thiem.

Also playing in an ATP final for the first time, Thiem came out firing in front of an adoring Austrian crowd. The home hope, just 20 years old, saved all three of the break points he faced in the opening set and served it out at 5-4.

But the Goffin who was unstoppable throughout all of July soon resurfaced on this second day of August. The world No. 78 dropped a mere one game in the middle frame of play and took control of the decider with an early break. Goffin fought off one break point midway through the third then finished the job in style with another break at 5-3, which he converted in part thanks to one double-fault by Thiem followed by a series of punishing forehands.

“It’s a great day for me, to win an ATP 250,” Goffin assured. “It’s just an amazing feeling right now. I don’t believe it. Maybe in a few days I’ll realize what happened today.

David Goffin of Belgium returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of Austria during their final match at the ATP tennis tournament in Kitzbuehel, Austria, 02 August 2014. Goffin won 4-6, 6-1 and 6-3. EPA/EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

“You work so much in the fitness room and on the court for a moment like today. You play so many practices and so many matches to have this emotion, so when you win the match point you can’t control it.”

Goffin is projected to soar 30 spots in the rankings to 48th on Monday. Thiem’s consolation prize will be another career-high mark of approximately No. 44 in the world, up six spots from his current ranking.

“You have to find the right words and I hope that I managed to do that,” Thiem said of his speech to the home crowd following the contest. “It was an amazing week for me and the crowd gave me huge support during every match…. Of course I’m very disappointed. But I lost against an extremely strong opponent, who didn’t commit a lot of mistakes and played with a lot power.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp, David Goffin, Dominic Thiem, Kitzbühel, Ricky Dimon, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

August 2, 2014 at 5:08 pm

20TH STRAIGHT WIN GIVES @David__Goffin 1ST #ATP TITLE VS. FELLOW FIRST-TIME FINALIST @ThiemDomi BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/qItaOhr6DB
RD_Tennistalk says:

August 2, 2014 at 5:09 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: 20TH STRAIGHT WIN GIVES @David__Goffin 1ST #ATP TITLE VS. FELLOW FIRST-TIME FINALIST @ThiemDomi BY @RD_Tennistalk- http:…