DAVID GOFFIN CAPTURES SHENZHEN TITLE BY OUTLASTING DOLGOPOLOV, ISTOMIN WINS IN CHENGDU VIA RETIREMENT

Written by: Staff on 1st October 2017

DAVID GOFFIN CAPTURES SHENZHEN TITLE BY OUTLASTING DOLGOPOLOV, ISTOMIN WINS IN CHENGDU VIA RETIREMENT

epa06206247 David Goffin of Belgium in action during his singles match against Australian player John Millman for the Davis Cup World Group semifinal between Belgium and Australia, in Brussels, Belgium, 15 September 2017. EPA-EFE/STEPHANIE LECOCQ |

Goffin captures Shenzhen title by outlasting Dolgopolov, Istomin wins in Chengdu via retirement

By Ricky Dimon

David Goffin suffered a freak knee injury at the French Open this spring, after which a summer went a bit off the rails as a direct result. Goffin, who recovered to reach the U.S. Open fourth round despite being less than 100 percent, took his comeback to new heights when he defeated Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 in the Shenzhen Open final on Sunday afternoon. Goffin prevailed after two hours and three minutes to lift the trophy–the third of his ATP career and first since 2014.

The 12th-ranked Belgian withstood 15 aces off the racket of Dolgopolov, who did not double-fault even once. Goffin battled back from a 5-1 deficit in the second set to incredibly force a tiebreaker, but he could not get over the finish line. Instead, Dolgopolov pushed the match to a third. It finally ended with Goffin delivering an awesome backhand pass on championship point at 5-3, 40-30 in the third.

“This one is really special because you know it’s always tough to come back from injuries,” Goffin assured. “To come back from injury to qualify my country for the Davis Cup final and then to win my third trophy, it means a lot. I cannot be happier today.”

At the Chengdu Open, Sunday’s final title tilt in unceremonious and abrupt fashion when Marcos Baghdatis retired due to a back issue while trailing 3-2 in the first.

“I was feeling a bit of pain in my back during the week, but late after my match last night I felt some spasms,” Baghdatis lamented. “This morning I woke up a bit the same. After my warmup, it got worse. The ATP physio worked on me for an hour and a half. I was okay for three or four games and the spasms came back. I’ve had back issues before, but not like this.

“It’s a bit disappointing to finish this way, but it’s true that it’s always positive to be in the final of a tournament. I have to thank all the people that made this event possible. They do a great job here. I love this place and I’ll hope to come next year, too.”

Baghdatis’ retirement gave Istomin his second career ATP title, for which he needed to play only 23 minutes on Sunday.

“I know his situation, because I’ve had a lot of injuries,” the Uzbek said. “I know the feeling and we are good friends, so my first thought was to help Marcos when I saw him go down. Of course I want to win the title, but not this way. I hope he gets better and will be okay for the rest of the season. I feel great and especially today I was feeling better than the other matches. I think I’m in the same condition as I was in Australia at the beginning of the season…. I’m feeling fine now and will try to finish the year as best as I can.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.

Topics: 10sballs, Alexandr Dolgopolov, David Goffin, Ricky Dimon, Shenzhen Open, Tennis

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