David Goffin route to Halle Open final: Belgian aims to spoil Roger Federer title pursuit
DAVID GOFFIN can stop Roger Federer from winning 10 trophies at a single tournament for the first time when the two meet in the final of the Halle Open today. How did the underdog get there? Here’s his path to the final as he looks to cause an upset.
Noventi Open: David Goffin beats Matteo Berrettini to reach final
David Goffin has hit form at the right time as he looks to spring a surprise against Roger Federer in the final of the Halle Open.
The world number 33 came from a set down to knock out world number five Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.
He then ousted Matteo Berrettini, ranked 11 places above him, to become an unexpected finalist.
Goffin now stands between Federer and his 10th trophy at Halle - the first time he has won 10 titles at a single tournament.
He can also deny Federer a 102nd career title. How did the Belgian get here? Express Sport charts his run.
First round, 6-1, 6-1 vs Guido Pella
Pella is ranked nine places above Goffin and was the eighth seed coming into the tournament.
But the Belgian, who was not seeded for Halle, destroyed the Argentinean who he has now beaten three times without reply across his career.
He might have expected a tougher test against an opponent he took five sets to beat at the US Open, but won almost 80 percent of points on his serve and fired nine aces in a brutal win.
Second round, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 vs Radu Albot
Goffin’s first true test of the tournament came against Moldovan Albot, who took the first set in a match lasting almost two hours.
It took almost 80 minutes for Goffin to earn his first break in a match in which he started sluggishly.
That gave him the impetus to surge into a 3-0 lead by breaking his opponent to love in the deciding set - and the momentum saw him through.
Quarter-final, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(3) vs Alexander Zverev
This was a stunning comeback win against a player who had been tipped to most closely challenge Federer for the crown in Germany this year.
Zverev came into the match with real pedigree alongside his fifth-placed ranking, having reached the French Open quarter-finals and played in the Halle final twice previously.
Goffin performed courageously to overcome letting slip two match points at 5-4 in the third set, winning the tie-break to advance.
Semi-final, 7-6(4), 6-3 vs Matteo Berrettini
Goffin had lost six consecutive tour-level semi-finals before he ended the Italian’s eight-match winning streak in some style.
He saved all three break points he faced against a tough opponent who came into the match with a record of winning 83 of his previous 84 service games.
Goffin beamed: “It was a great feeling on this court, an amazing atmosphere and a top-level match from my side. We didn't give anything in our service games.”