Goffin, With New Coach, Sweeps Into Antalya Semi-finals
David Goffin continued his excellent start to 2021 on Monday with a place in the Antalya Open semi-finals. The second-seeded Belgian, who is bidding to capture the fifth ATP Tour title of his career, played with great confidence to beat Stefano Travaglia of Italy 6-3, 6-2 in 63 minutes.
“I got off to a good start in both sets and felt that I was aggressive on my forehand and solid on return,” Goffin told ATPTour.com. “I am happy to be in the semi-finals, as I served well and felt physically better.”
Working with new coach Germain Gigounon, Goffin is hoping to regain the kind of form that helped him to 59 tour-level wins in 2017 and a career-high No. 7 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.
Goffin explained, “We’ve worked on small details. My technique is okay, but it’s been about motivation and going back to basics. I feel I have a solid game, but I’ve worked on moving better, taking the ball earlier and work on my serve.
“I need to get back to what I used to do. The past few months of last season, I had good and bad matches. I need consistency and Germain is a good friend, so I’m happy with my start this year.”
Goffin, who saved five match points against Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the first round, is through to his first ATP Tour semi-final since February 2020 at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier (l. to Pospisil). He will next challenge fourth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur.
De Minaur broke twice in each set to overcome sixth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6-2, 6-4 in 75 minutes. The 21-year-old Australian will now attempt to advance to his eighth ATP Tour final.
View Antalya Singles Draw