Twenty matches since Wimbledon. Twenty wins for David Goffin.
The first 15 of those 20 earned him three consecutive Challenger titles, but the most recent five this week were the ones that mattered most. Five more victories for Goffin on the clay courts of Kitzbuhel gave Goffin his first career ATP title at the bet-at-home Cup. The 23-year-old Belgian capped it off on Saturday with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Dominic Thiem.
Also playing in an ATP final for the first time, Thiem came out firing in front of an adoring Austrian crowd. The home hope, just 20 years old, saved all three of the break points he faced in the opening set and served it out at 5-4.
But the Goffin who was unstoppable throughout all of July soon resurfaced on this second day of August. The world No. 78 dropped a mere one game in the middle frame of play and took control of the decider with an early break. Goffin fought off one break point midway through the third then finished the job in style with another break at 5-3, which he converted in part thanks to one double-fault by Thiem followed by a series of punishing forehands.
“It’s a great day for me, to win an ATP 250,” Goffin assured. “It’s just an amazing feeling right now. I don’t believe it. Maybe in a few days I’ll realize what happened today.
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