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.

David Goffin celebrates his win over Dominic Thiem

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.

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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