ATP Finals: Goffin overcomes slow start & Thiem to set up Federer SF
Roger Federer is next for David Goffin after he reached the semi-finals in London with a comfortable win over Dominic Thiem.
Published : Nov 17, 2017 23:21 IST
David Goffin set up an ATP World Tour Finals last-four clash with Roger Federer by overcoming a slow start to beat Dominic Thiem in straight sets.
With both men having taken one win from their opening two group matches, their meeting at the O2 Arena served as a winner-takes-all contest.
It initially looked as if Thiem was going to be the one to take control as he forged a 3-0 lead in the first set, however, Goffin wrestled the momentum away from the Austrian and never looked back.
READ: Goffin admits 'I don't know what to do' against Federer
The Belgian needed just an hour and 11 minutes to complete a 6-4, 6-1 victory and book a Saturday showdown with Federer, who he has never beaten in six meetings.
Thiem quickly seized the initiative as he broke to love in the second game, David Goffin sending a forehand long, and had little issue consolidating that break to seemingly move into a position of command.
However, Goffin promptly broke back in the fifth as Thiem meekly surrendered a service game without winning a point, and then went a break up when his opponent blasted a forehand wide.
A stunning forehand pass secured the set for Goffin and, after Thiem received treatment on his left knee during the interval, the World No. 8 continued in the ascendancy by breaking in the third game.
Thiem fired long to spurn a break-back opportunity in the subsequent game and an errant backhand handed Goffin the double break shortly after.
Goffin needed 10 minutes to hold for 5-1 as Thiem displayed some signs of resistance, only to see four more break points go begging.
And a frustrating match for the world number four came to a fitting end as Goffin wrapped things up by giving a poor second serve the appropriate treatment with a return to which Thiem could not respond to clinch second spot in Group Pete Sampras.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Goffin [7] bt Thiem [4] 6-4 6-1
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS Goffin - 10/20 Thiem - 11/27
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS Goffin 2/5 Thiem 1/6
BREAK POINTS WON Goffin - 5/7 Thiem - 1/6
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Goffin - 66 Thiem - 43
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE Goffin - 74/45 Thiem - 67/36
TOTAL POINTS Goffin - 62 Thiem - 45