Roland-Garros - David Goffin: “Beating a veteran gives me confidence”

Roland-Garros - David Goffin: “Beating a veteran gives me confidence”

On Thursday, David Goffin (ATP ranking 13) advanced for the second consecutive year to the third round of the Roland Garros tournament by beating the Argentinian Carlos Berlocq (ATP ranking 126). On court N.3, the player from Liège, aged 25, dominated 7-5, 6-1 and 6-4 against the veteran South American, aged 33, after playing a fairly solid match. On Saturday he faces the Spaniard Nicolas Almagro (ATP ranking 49). “I am very pleased. Beating a veteran in the second round of this competition gives me confidence,” he revealed.

Thursday was, in a manner of speaking, the same story all over again for David Goffin. Carlos Berlocq in no way resembles Grégoire Barrère, but the match scenario was identical to the first round, the number one Belgian tennis player ahead, having returned from a break of serve in the first and third set, before winning the match.

Goffin said, “It was a good match all round. Especially in the third set where the tension cranked up a notch. He [Berlocq] gave his all to come back but I stayed calm and I was able to increase the tempo. I have always known very well that he is capable of doing everything to destabilise his opponent. He was infernal in the Davis Cup. He took it bad here as well when I broke him in the first set. He is someone who, it must be said, has both a heavy and high stroke and gives his life to win every match. In short, this had not initially been obvious.”

On Saturday, David Goffin is up against, Nicolas Almagro, another “veteran” to use tennis jargon, on his road to winning the Roland Garros. The Spaniard, who was ninth at the ATP in 2011, has been on much better form in recent months, winning, in particular, the Estoril tournament at the end of April. The man from Liège, who has never beaten him should therefore be on his guard. “I will need to make him move, as he has a fabulous stroke and the ability to deliver amazing shots from the back of the court. He has won I don't know how many titles on clay and he even eliminated Kohlschreiber here in the first round. This proves that he is on form. It's the third round and everyone must hang on in there to try to win,” he concludes.

(Source: Belga)


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