ATP MEN’S TENNIS UPDATE – ROTTERDAM GOFFIN HANDS DIMITROV SECOND LOSS OF SEASON, BEDYCH TO FACE TSONGA

Written by: Staff on 17th February 2017

ATP MEN'S TENNIS UPDATE - ROTTERDAM GOFFIN HANDS DIMITROV SECOND LOSS OF SEASON, BEDYCH TO FACE TSONGA

epa05798105 Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) during his match against Denis Istomin (UZB), during the second round of the ABN AMRO-tennis tournament in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, 16 February 2017. EPA/KOEN SUYK |

Semis for @david__goffin! He takes out Grigor Dimitrov in three entertaining sets! #abnamrowtt #grigordimitrov #davidgoffin – Photo by @abnamrowtt via Instagram.

Goffin hands Dimitrov second loss of season, Berdych to face Tsonga in Rotterdam

By Ricky Dimon

The third time was the charm for David Goffin against Grigor Dimitrov in 2017.

Nobody has had much luck against Dimitrov this season, but Goffin beat the Bulgarian for the first time in three attempts during the opening six weeks of the year–and in seven attempts overall–at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Friday. Goffin improved to 1-6 lifetime against Dimitrov with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 quarterfinal victory in two hours and 16 minutes.

Dimitrov had been 16-1 in 2017, losing only to Rafael Nadal in a five-set Australian Open semifinal showdown. The world No. 12 defeated Goffin for last week’s Sofia title, but he finally ran out of steam in Rotterdam. Although almost nothing separated the two players in this one, the 11th-ranked Belgian capitalized on his only break chance in the final set and fought off both of the break points he faced.

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) during his match against Denis Istomin (UZB), during the second round of the ABN AMRO-tennis tournament in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, 16 February 2017. EPA/KOEN SUYK

Goffin is joined in the semifinals by Jo-Wlilfried Tsonga, who ousted No. 1 seed Marin Cilic 7-6(10), 7-6(5). Neither competitor dropped serve in the entire match, but it was Tsonga who played the big points better in the tiebreakers.

“I’m really happy with the victory, as the most important thing is that I played good tennis from the start to the end,” Tsonga assessed. “I have been feeling great the past couple of months, including a quarterfinal at the Australian Open. Marin is a very good player and difficult to play against as he has an all-round game.”

Next up for the world No. 14 is Tomas Berdych, who knocked out defending champion Martin Klizan 6-3, 6-3.

Berdych is leading the head-to-head against Tsonga 8-3 and the Czech prevailed 7-5, 6-3 last fall in the Doha quarterfinals. The world No. 13 has won four of their last five encounters dating back to the start of the 2014 season and each of those victories has come in straight sets.

“Tomas is very consistent, with a full game…and covers the court well,” Tsonga noted.

“The best strategy is to play well,” Berdych added. “My own game will be extremely important tomorrow, as I will try to dictate from the very beginning. I need to be focused from the first point.”