Goffin to meet Dimitrov in ATP Tour finals
David Goffin, the Belgian who knocked out Roger Federer in the ATP Tour semi-final in London will meet Grigor Dimitrov in the final today.
Dimitrov, the Bulgarian sixth seed ended Jack Sock’s fairytale late-season run 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 in a battle pitting the American’s big forehand against Dimitrov’s rapier-like backhand.
Both players had met in the round robin, with Dimitrov prevailing in two sets., Goffin will today hope for a different outcome from the previous meeting, which Dimitrov won 6-0, 6-2.
shocked overwhelming favourite Roger Federer on Saturday in the last four of the ATP Finals and will face Grigor Dimitrov for the title in the season finale.
Belgium’s Goffin had never previously beaten the Swiss 19-time Grand Slam champion in six attempts and was in deep trouble after losing the first set but he stormed back to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
In the later semi-final, Bulgarian sixth seed Dimitrov ended Jack Sock’s fairytale late-season run 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 in a battle pitting the American’s big forehand against Dimitrov’s rapier-like backhand.
Goffin will be hoping for a different outcome from the round-robin meeting earlier in the week, which Dimitrov won 6-0, 6-2.
Dimitrov had roared into a 3-0 lead in the first set before Paris Masters champion Sock won six games out of seven to take the first set.
Undaunted, Dimitrov, 26, stepped up his game and bagelled the 25-year-old eighth seed in the second set in just 22 minutes to take the match into a decider.
In an enthralling third set, neither player was able to force a break until the crucial eighth game, when Dimitrov hit a forehand winner down the line to lead 5-3 after a double-fault from Sock.
He held his nerve to seal the contest on his fourth match point in a game lasting around 10 minutes.
“I was very composed with myself, I didn’t let any negative thoughts come into my head,” said Dimitrov. “Things went my way tonight and I’m more than happy.
“I’m so humbled to be in the final tomorrow. It’s another match — I just need to keep on playing. It’s the last match of the season so full house, and we’re on.”
NAN
