Huge achievement by David Goffin! In the first round of the Astana Open, the Liégeois won in straight sets against world number one Carlos Alcaraz (7-5, 6-3).
Beaten in qualifying David Goffin wasn’t supposed to be there but he got drafted like lucky loser. Not lucky in the draw by inheriting from Carlos Alcarazthe Liégeois did not have “nothing to lose” according to his own words. It was perhaps the best thing that could happen to him.
The start of the match was very tight, much more than some pessimists predicted. From his second service game, Goffin had to concede the break but did not let himself be left behind, returning directly to the score before continuing to lead 5-2. Two points from the set twice, he finally saw his opponent come back to score (5-5). Concentrated in the final sprint, Goffin finally broke a third time in the last game, synonymous with winning the first set.
On his way, he started the second set with a bang, winning the first three games to lead 3-0. After missing two double break points, the Belgian number 1 did not allow himself to be destabilized to lead 4-1, and even 5-1. When serving for the win of the match, Goffin slightly slowed down by letting his opponent come back at 5-3. Under pressure, he finally got away with it in the next game (6-3).
This victory is the third of the Liège against a world number 1 since the beginning of his career while Alcaraz had not lost without taking the slightest set for 334 days, almost a year. In ten years, this is also the fourth time that a lucky loser has won against a world number one.
As the Spaniard completed his first singles tournament since his historic US Open title, Goffin could use the victory as a launch for an interesting end to the season. Very inconsistent this season, he still achieved some big performances like his quarter-final at Wimbledon. Hopefully this success will restore his confidence. It will already start with a second round against the French Adrian Mannarino (ATP 51), Swiss striker Stan Wawrinka.