David Goffin, ranked 13th in the world has beaten Novak Djokovic at the Monte-Carlo Masters and will now face nine-time Monte Carlo champion Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. The penultimate match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 22. Goffin earned the biggest win of his carrier when he beat Djokovic 6-2 3-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals of Monte-Carlo Masters.
This is the first time, Goffin – seeded 10 in the tournament – has beaten a player in the top three rank. He won against Djokovic in a dramatic turn of events as he succeeded to win his fifth match point at the eleventh minute of the game.
The defeat ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning a third ATP title in Monte Carlo.
Goffin versus Djokovic
Djokovic, who was making a comeback from his elbow injury, looked shaky after he lost his first set to Goffin. However, he did not show any serious physical damage after falling into the court side ad hoardings, in a bid to break his rival’s serve in the fourth game. Although Goffin did lose his serve in the opening of the decider game, he went on to level it at 4-4 by claiming his seventh break point of the set.
In the next three games, both traded holds. However, a nervous Goffin wasted four match points in the final game. Nevertheless, he refocused and won the fifth attempt after Djokovic hit a forehand into the net.
The two faced each other previously in six matches; however, this is the first time the Belgian succeeded in beating his rival. It is also his first victory against a player ranked in top three out of 15 matches.
Nadal to win his 10th Monte Carlo title?
Nadal who is known as the “King of Clay” has bagged the Monte-Carlo Masters championship nine times in the past.
In the current game he is the bookie favorite following the defeat of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and Stan Wawrinka. Nadal won his quarter finals against Diego Schwartzman by 6-4 6-4.
Schwartzman, who will move up to rank 40 (courtesy his three wins) showed great temperament and caliber against the 30-year old. The Argentine in the opening set fought back from 4-1 to 4-4 but, the Spaniard eventually turned the game in his favor.
Schwartzman even broke Nadal’s serve in the second set to lead by 4-2, however, the Spaniard went on to win four straight games resulting in Schwartzman’s defeat.
Nadal or Goffin?
This is the first time Goffin will be playing against Nadal. He also leads the 2017 ATP World Tour with 23 match wins followed closely by Nadal with 22. This is the 12th time Nadal will be appearing for a semi-final and his only semi-final defeat came two year ago in 2015 against Djokovic. If the Spaniard succeeds in winning this Monte-Carlo Masters, it will be his first ATP World Tour title since 2016 and the 70th in his career. The latter, on the other hand will become the first Belgian to reach a Masters final, if he beats the former in the semi-final match.
