Belgian Tennis Star David Goffin Snags Seventh Spot • Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, Del Potro & Isner Still In Race

Belgium’s David Goffin in action against Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their semifinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 28 October 2017. EPA-EFE/ALEXANDRA WEY

 

 

Goffin snags seventh spot in World Tour Finals, Del Potro and Isner stay alive

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

David Goffin needed either a win of his own or a loss by Lucas Pouille at the Rolex Paris Masters on Thursday in order to clinch a spot in the upcoming Nitto ATP World Tour Finals. He did not get a win, but he did get the necessary help.

 

Following a 6-3, 6-3 third-round loss to Julien Benneteau, Goffin eventually saw Pouille bow out to Jack Sock 7-6(6), 6-3. The latter result propelled the Belgian to his first-ever World Tour Finals qualification. He is the seventh qualifier, leaving one more available spot that could be determined on Friday afternoon.

 

“I would have preferred to have qualified by winning my match,” Goffin explained. “Lucas is a friend, but I am still so happy to have qualified. It is every player’s dream to make the (World Tour) Finals and it is my first time [qualifying], so I can’t wait to get to London.”

 

The world No. 10 was an alternate at the year-end championship in 2016 and played one match after Gael Monfils withdrew.

 

Goffin joins a field that already includes Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic, and Grigor Dimitrov. The remaining contenders for the eighth and final spot are Pablo Carreno Busta, Juan Martin Del Potro, John Isner, and Jack Sock. Carreno Busta lost his first match in Paris, so he can only sit back and watch what happens with Del Potro, Isner, and Sock.

 

Del Potro and Isner will go head-to-head in a crucial quarterfinal showdown on Friday. The 17th-ranked Argentine clinches a place in London with a victory, while the 6’10” American must beat Del Potro and eventually capture the Paris title. Sock must also lift the Paris trophy in order to qualify.

 

Respective third-round victories over Robin Haase and Grigor Dimitrov kept hope alive for Del Potro and Isner.

 

“It’s extra motivation to me,” the 2009 U.S. Open champion said of a potential place at the O2 Arena in two weeks. “It’s going to be a good battle next round trying to qualify for London…. Of course I would love to reach London for once again. It could be a fantastic moment for me. But it’s still a really hard challenge.”

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.