Belgian tennis player David Goffin has reached his first-ever Monte Carlo Masters semi-final. Goffin handed a loss to world number two Novak Djokovic in Friday's quarter-final matchup. Belgium's Goffin needed three sets to prevail over Serbia's Djokovic 6-2 3-6 7-5. Goffin trailed 2-4 in the third set to Djokovic but didn't give up to eventually earn the win. The Belgian converted his fifth match point on Djokovic's serve in the 12th game of the decider.
Goffin finds a winning formula finally
David Goffin has ended on the winning side against Novak Djokovic for the first time ever.
Prior to their Friday clash, Djokovic had a 5-0 head-to-head record over Goffin. However, that has changed this week at the Monte Carlo Masters. It was the first match between the two in the 2017 tennis season.
Goffin saved 7-of-9 of Djokovic's break point chances, while converting 4-of-17 of his break-point tries. Both players ended the match with 105 total points won. It was an intense match, which lasted 2 hours and 37 minutes.
Lucas Pouille continues his great week
World number 17 Pouille is also through to the Monte Carlo Masters semi-final. Pouille made it past Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay on Friday to reach his first-ever Monte Carlo last-four stage. Rising French Pouille ended on the winning side in a close encounter 6-0 3-6 7-5.
Pouille now has a 1-0 edge over Cuevas in their head-to-head record.
2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic out
Albert Ramos-Vinolas was the first player on Friday to book his place in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-final. Ramos-Vinolas outclassed Croatia's Marin Cilic in the opening match of the day 6-2 5-7 (5-7) 6-2. Ramos was close to achieving a straight-sets win as he was 6-2 5-3 up over Cilic -- but Cilic didn't give up.
However, the second-set letdown didn't stop Ramos from defeating Cilic in the end. It took 2 hours and 32 minutes for the clash to end.
Pouille to meet Ramos-Vinolas
Pouille and Ramos-Vinolas will be meeting for the second time ever at the ATP level when they take on each other in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-final. Pouille and Ramos-Vinolas met two years ago in Auckland, where Pouille handed a 6-3 6-2 loss to Ramos-Vinolas.
The two have played once outside of the ATP level -- 2014 Kenitra Challenger -- Ramos-Vinolas ended on the winning side 6-0 1-6 7-5. Both players will be battling on the clay court of Monte Carlo on Saturday for their first Masters 1000 final.
