David Goffin endured what can only be considered as one of the collapses of the year at Wimbledon.
Goffin became a lucky loser in the main draw when two-time champion Andy Murray withdrew, but in hindsight the 33-year-old probably regrets what at the time seemed like a stroke of good fortune. With a second chance in his first-round match at the All-England Club, Goffin led Tomas Machac 5-0 in the fifth set. Amazingly, the Belgian could not get across the finish and ended up losing 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(10-5).
The veteran is now trying to pick up the pieces from that disaster and put together a run on the U.S. hard courts. He is off to good start in that effort, having defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in round one of the Atlanta Open on Monday afternoon.
Goffin admitted that the win was an important one, but not because of anything that transpired in the recent past.
“Not because it was something that happened at Wimbledon,” the former world No. 7 explained. “You always need a win. It’s more about because it’s the beginning of the U.S. tournaments on hard. I didn’t play on hard courts for a few months; it was the clay and the grass-court season. It’s always nice to start the U.S. tournaments with a win, especially against Shapo–who is a really tough opponent and can play really well on that kind of surface.”
Shapovalov, who has endured his own struggles in 2024, showed signs of life by taking the second set. However, the flashier but more erratic Canadian was no match for his opponent’s rock-solid consistency in the decider.
“I’m really happy that I managed to get the win,” Goffin concluded. “The consistency at the end, especially in the third set after I lost the second, was the key.
“I don’t really like the heat, but it’s fine. The conditions are great for my game…if I’m ready to fight with the heat. It’s tough when the sun comes out. It’s very humid. But I’m here to fight, to find my game, to go as far as possible in the draw. It’s my first time in Atlanta. I’m happy to be here, to discover this tournament and to get my first win today. Hopefully I can get a second win in the next round.”
