TENNIS FROM ROTTERDAM – DAVID GOFFIN CLINCHES TOP 10 SPOT FOR FIRST TIME, TO FACE TSONGA IN FINAL

Written by: Staff on 18th February 2017

Tennis ABN Amro World Tournament in Rotterdam

TENNIS FROM ROTTERDAM - DAVID GOFFIN CLINCHES TOP 10 SPOT FOR FIRST TIME, TO FACE TSONGA IN FINAL

epa05802739 David Goffin of Belgium (R) and Pierre-Hugues Herbert (L) of France after their semi final match of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 18 February 2017. EPA/KOEN SUYK |

Goffin clinches Top 10 spot for first time, to face Tsonga in Rotterdam final

By Ricky Dimon

David Goffin of Belgium in action against Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France during their semi final match of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 18 February 2017. EPA/KOEN SUYK

David Goffin had been one win away from the top 10 once before. In fact, he would have climbed to No. 7 in the world with a French Open quarterfinal victory over Dominic Thiem. In that Roland Garros showdown last year, however, the Belgian fell to Thiem after taking the first set.

With another chance to snag a spot in the top 10, Goffin was not about to make same mistake again at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Saturday night. The third seed got off to a fast start in his semifinal date with Pierre-Hugues Herbert and never looked back, crushing his good friend 6-1, 6-3 in one hour and 14 minutes.

The world No. 11 generated 10 break opportunities against the net-rushing Herbert, converted four of them, and saved the only break point he faced on his own serve.

Goffin will make a second consecutive final appearance on Sunday, having previously fallen to Grigor Dimitrov at the last hurdle in Sofia. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is the one standing in Goffin’s way this time around.

Tsonga secured his place in the title match by destroying Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 12 minutes. The world No. 14 did not face a single break point while firing 10 aces compared to only one double-fault. He served at 64 percent and won 88 percent of his first-serve points.

“It was a good match–(I) played pretty solid on my serve, which is good for my game,” the sixth seed explained. “When I’m serving like this I’m able to create a bit more on the return and be a bit more offensive. (I’m) just really happy to be in the final. Now it’s the last step, and it’s not an easy one so I’m already focused on the next match.”

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in action against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their semi final match of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 18 February 2017. EPA/KOEN SUYK

Goffin has never been easy for Tsonga. The Frenchman leads the head-to-head series by a slim 3-2 margin and he lost their only previous hard-court meeting–also indoors–by a 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 score at the 2014 Metz tournament. They last faced each other in 2015, when Tsonga prevailed twice on clay–6-3, 6-4 in Monte-Carlo Masters and 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in Rome.

Regardless of the result, Goffin will be in the top 10 for the first time in his career on Monday. He will soar as high as No. 7 with a victory.