David Goffin qualified for the quarter-finals of the Auckland ATP 250 tennis tournament. The Liégeois, 53rd player in the world, won 6-2, 6-4 once morest the American Christopher Eubanks (ATP 153), from qualifying. The meeting lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Goffin experiences a small scare in the third game: following a slip, he remains on the ground for a few moments. The match was then interrupted due to rain and moved to an indoor court.
On the restart, the Liégeois had to save three break points at 1-2. After a long fifth game, which he won on his fourth break point, he began to unfold, winning the first set 6-2. In the second set, he fends off two break point balls at 2-1. He takes his opponent’s serve in the next game. This break is enough to lead him to victory.
“A win, a second in a row, I’m very happy“, he confided at the end of his qualification. “This has not been easy. It was a long day, waiting due to the rain. I don’t know how many times I warmed up, I lost track“, he smiled. “And on arrival, seeing this match moved indoors, once morest a great server, was not the most exciting thing for me, but there was no other choice. And in the end, I returned very well and I was solid on my service games. Tennis is a matter of constant adaptation. The weather, the wind, the sun,… We started outside for two games, before having to switch inside. We had to stay focused, calm, because a change in playing conditions can generate nervousness. At the finish, I managed to play very well and that’s the most important thing.“
Goffin will face for a place in the last four the French Richard Gasquet (ATP 67), winner 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 from the Portuguese João Sousa (ATP 82).
This will be the sixth meeting between the two players. Goffin leads 3-2.
