Goffin Will Qualify for 2017 WTF

[Meles]

Good chance of winning Shehnzen where he is now the favorite and matches up well with the two top seeds at Japan Open, Thiem and Cilic:
19/2017 R16 Rome Masters Clay Marin Cilic David Goffin 6-3 6-4 2.00 - 1.80
44/2016 R16 Paris Masters I Hard Marin Cilic David Goffin 6-3 7-6(9)
40/2016 SF Tokyo Hard David Goffin Marin Cilic 7-5 6-4 2.25 - 1.62
13/2016 BEL v CRO - DC WG - R1 Clay David Goffin Marin Cilic 6-4 6-4 3-6 7-5
10/2016 QF Indian Wells Masters Hard David Goffin Marin Cilic 7-6(4) 6-2 2.15 - 1.67
9/2016 Belgium v Croatia - DC WG - R1 Clay David Goffin Marin Cilic 6-4 6-4 3-6 7-5 2.40 - 1.56

Goffin's counter punching game seems well suited to the fast low bouncing Asian courts, so good chance he's in the top 8 by the end of Shanghai:

Standings show positions 7 and 8 for the taking:
7 Pablo Carreno Busta 26 ESP 7/12/1991 2595
8 Sam Querrey 29 USA 10/7/1987 2435
9 Kevin Anderson 31 RSA 5/18/1986 2335
10 Andy Murray 30 GBR 5/15/1987 2290
11 David Goffin 26 BEL 12/7/1990 2125
14 Tomas Berdych 32 CZE 9/17/1985 2005
15 Roberto Bautista Agut 29 ESP 4/14/1988 1915
16 Kei Nishikori 27 JPN 12/29/1989 1885 (injured)
17 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 32 FRA 4/17/1985 1805 (pulled out of China Open)
18 Milos Raonic 26 CAN 12/27/1990 1795
19 John Isner 32 USA 4/26/1985 1770
20 Nick Kyrgios 22 AUS 4/27/1995 1700


None of the top players are in great form with Nadal's dismissal at Laver Cup by Isner. Goffin appears to be finding form again just in time.

 

[Fabresque]

Good god he better. Seeing Sam Querrey line up to face Carreño Busta is literally the end of tennis as we know it.

 

[Meles]

Good god he better. Seeing Sam Querrey line up to face Carreño Busta is literally the end of tennis as we know it.

Wouldn't mind seeing RBA and Goffin round out WTF then we'd have something decent with Cilic and Dimitrov rounding out Fedal and Thiemerev. Both Goffin and RBA have good speed and counter punching style necessary to make a big move over the next few weeks. Most of the big servers in contention were gone after 2nd round of Shanghai in 2016, but Anderson did pretty well in 2015 taking out Nishikori. Busta was pummelled by Simon first round last year. Murray won't be around to stop Goffin this year.

 

[Pepe Imazzing122]

That's the same as saying Djokovic will qualify for the WTF as Pepe will give him miracle elixir to make him strong again.

 

[The Green Mile]

I hope so, not many play more entertaining tennis than Goffin.

 

[metsman]

WTF is going to be tragic

 

[Yoneyama]

Watching Goffin right now. Super impressed with how well he has come back after that horrifying ankle obliteration earlier. He is playing very very good. Goffin to me is by far the most aesthetically pleasing 2HBH/ counterpuncher type player to watch.

 

[Bukmeikara]

He wont unless another player infront of him withdraws. Since his return he lost to Dodig, Haase, Chung, Kyrgios, Rublev, Paire. He had problems defeating Balazs, Albot, Sugita, Pella, Beneteau, Almagro, Donskoy and Milman. His level of play is probably not even top 20, dont get me started for top 8.

The guys infront of him - Anderson, Querrey, Murray and those behind him Raonic, Tsonga, Berdych are all likely to outscore him in the Fall. IMO his chances are less than 15% even less than 10%.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Goffin; the new Tipsarevic.

 

[I Am Finnish]

 

[I Am Finnish]

@stringertom

 

[Noelan]

OP is switching to Goffin . Please leave the guy alone!

 

[stringertom]

OP is switching to Goffin . Please leave the guy alone!

Gonna hop across the street to Fuzzy's Taco Shop and wash a plate of Hot Thiemeles down with an early happy hour margarita and contemplate this dilemma...will it be McFlyeles or Joffreles or Goffeles, maybe even Princeles we will name the new bandwagon???

He could have been a contender until this thread.

 

[cj101]

I already called goffin being a dark horse to win WTF. Your prediction is neither bold enough or original.

 

[Meles]

I already called goffin being a dark horse to win WTF. Your prediction is neither bold enough or original.

Well I got it out before he played Shenzhen SF. Plays Dolgo in the final and if he wins he'll be at 2285 just over 300 points behind PCB who stands 7th right now and 150 points behind Querrey in 8th. Dolgo head to head:
35/2013 R128 US Open Hard Alexandr Dolgopolov David Goffin 6-2 6-4 6-4 1.58 - 2.62
11/2010 R32 Marrakech Challenger Clay Alexandr Dolgopolov David Goffin 7-5 6-3 1.15 - 5.00

Odds show Goofin is favored this time unlike their previous encounters which makes sense as Goffin was not the same player prior to 2014. Dolgo red hot right now though.

He'll be playing his home tournament the European Cup in Belgium after Shanghai where he'll be number 1 seed. Also has Basel on schedule and surely Paris so he's playing every week. @stringertom always is one to point out that Goffin won like 40 straight matches Summer of 2014 or something close to this.

As Thiem's arch nemesis what can I say, but break a leg.

 

[mogo]

Man watching him slide into the tarp was so bad, I hope he does make it to the WTF.

 

[albertobra]

He wont unless another player infront of him withdraws. Since his return he lost to Dodig, Haase, Chung, Kyrgios, Rublev, Paire. He had problems defeating Balazs, Albot, Sugita, Pella, Beneteau, Almagro, Donskoy and Milman. His level of play is probably not even top 20, dont get me started for top 8.

The guys infront of him - Anderson, Querrey, Murray and those behind him Raonic, Tsonga, Berdych are all likely to outscore him in the Fall. IMO his chances are less than 15% even less than 10%.

While true that Goffin hasn't been testes with better ranked players after his comeback, and had some doubtfull results, I believe that It doesn't really matter. Goffin knows how to play top players, and If he wins the tournament tomorrow, it'll greatly help his mindset.
He was on the way of putting in big trouble Nadal on clay. And for.me he was gonna win that match. But FA Cedric Mourier had the genius glimpse to call in a ball that was half meter out.
I still don't know why Goffin continued that match.

 

[VladBurn]

I still don't know why Goffin continued that match.

He did because he is a fighter and doesnt want to give up, for him the match is not over until the handshake.
His wish to end the match in his favour was bigger than his nervousness caused by the bad umpire call, but we all know what happened later on, tbh I dont believe anyone would be strong enough mentally to overcome stress caused by such a bad call and then continue playing the match as if nothing wrong happened.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I already called goffin being a dark horse to win WTF.

Never gonna happen in a million years. Literally.

 

[albertobra]

He did because he is a fighter and doesnt want to give up, for him the match is not over until the handshake.
His wish to end the match in his favour was bigger than his nervousness caused by the bad umpire call, but we all know what happened later on, tbh I dont believe anyone would be strong enough mentally to overcome stress caused by such a bad call and then continue playing the match as if nothing wrong happened.

Yep you're probably right. Just stuck on court until last point.
No way you can overcome a call like that one. Dunno why Cedric did that. Goffin has no record on cheating, Cedric didn't ask line ref which was the ball after evident protesting from David. For me Cedric should go back to be ref in futures.

 

[cj101]

Never gonna happen in a million years. Literally.

Ok see you in a million years

 

[Noelan]

Good to see David playing well after terrible injury that he had during clay season.
Also that was awe- inspiring tennis against Kyrgios in DC.

He accepted to play WTF last year as replacement, one can clearly see the difference in the mentality between him and the likes of Dimitrov.

Go David!!

 

[Meles]

Never gonna happen in a million years. Literally.

He's rolling now with a great draw in Japan. Goffin is a bit like Djokovic with a lighter serve and Nole has done well at WTF, no?

 

[Meles]

Yep you're probably right. Just stuck on court until last point.
No way you can overcome a call like that one. Dunno why Cedric did that. Goffin has no record on cheating, Cedric didn't ask line ref which was the ball after evident protesting from David. For me Cedric should go back to be ref in futures.

 

[Meles]

Djoko lite rolling in Asia with back to back tournament wins after three year drought. Already 7th in race and has great draw in Shanghai where a weakened Federer is the biggest obstacle to making another final.

 

[albertobra]

Djoko lite rolling in Asia with back to back tournament wins after three year drought. Already 7th in race and has great draw in Shanghai where a weakened Federer is the biggest obstacle to making another final.

Lol Meles. Weakened Federer? You are in danger in saying something like that!!

 

[Meles]

Lol Meles. Weakened Federer? You are in danger in saying something like that!!

Really if you look at the draw he should go to the final since Goofin is in peak form. LOL if Thiem shows for SF against this Goffin. Zverev has been playing a lot recently and this year so he can be had if he stumbles into the SF.

 

[albertobra]

Really if you look at the draw he should go to the final since Goofin is in peak form. LOL if Thiem shows for SF against this Goffin. Zverev has been playing a lot recently and this year so he can be had if he stumbles into the SF.

I believe in the crescendo of Goffin. Atp 250 (Shenzhen), Atp 500 (Tokyo) ... and ... Atp 1000 (Shanghai). Of course it would be amazing. For sure David has the tennis to go far. As for Thiem reach SF, I would use your same three letters. LOL.

 

[Meles]

I believe in the crescendo of Goffin. Atp 250 (Shenzhen), Atp 500 (Tokyo) ... and ... Atp 1000 (Shanghai). Of course it would be amazing. For sure David has the tennis to go far. As for Thiem reach SF, I would use your same three letters. LOL.

If Shaps comes through I won't be surprised if he beats Thiem.

 

[Sport]

Goffin absolutely deserves to classify for the WTF 2017. He was having a good 2017 until his injury in Roland Garros. I am surprised that now he is winning titles on hard courts. He is a clay specialist, but looks more complete than Thiem.

 

[albertobra]

He's rolling now with a great draw in Japan. Goffin is a bit like Djokovic with a lighter serve and Nole has done well at WTF, no?

I like the comparison. I might even risk to say that Goffin has more confident forehand. More speedy and 'cleaner' as a shot. Where Djoko overpowers is on his stretchy body.

If Shaps comes through I won't be surprised if he beats Thiem.

Not even me. Unfortunately Thiem has a mental block for HD. I don't think it's a problem of his tennis. Yes maybe he needs to adjust some shots, but it's already several seasons that he just sets aside during HC period. He just gets depressed when he sees that his powerfull and full of spin shots don't make the same effect that they do on clay. Looses focus and gets impatient.

 

[Noelan]

Goffin absolutely deserves to classify for the WTF 2017. He was having a good 2017 until his injury in Roland Garros. I am surprised that now he is winning titles on hard courts. He is a clay specialist, but looks more complete than Thiem.

He is solid clay court player, not a clay court specialist.
His counter punching skills are the best on medium fast hard courts. He made ATP breakthrough in Basel 2014 where he reached F.

 

[Shaolin]

Very glad he's going to qualify. It's a joy to watch someone hit so clean.

 

[Meles]

I like the comparison. I might even risk to say that Goffin has more confident forehand. More speedy and 'cleaner' as a shot. Where Djoko overpowers is on his stretchy body.



Not even me. Unfortunately Thiem has a mental block for HD. I don't think it's a problem of his tennis. Yes maybe he needs to adjust some shots, but it's already several seasons that he just sets aside during HC period. He just gets depressed when he sees that his powerfull and full of spin shots don't make the same effect that they do on clay. Looses focus and gets impatient.

Well Thiem has come close to getting over the hump; only the recent Johnson loss truly troubles me. Ferrer played quite well and Pella seemed to thrive in these fast conditions (plus matchup.)

Right now Goffin's game is better to watch than Djokovic's:
1. The balletic grace of Goffin coming out of his shoes is poetry in motion
2. The first serve is better than Nole 2017 and keeps getting better
3. Goffin's 2nd serve has been a relative weakness, but saw a lot of bigger 2nd serves in the superlative Schwartzman duel
4. Goffin's 2nd return game is simply one of the best and a notch above Nole 2017 for sure (another weakness is Goffin first return except when it gets hot.)
5. Goffin's down the line backhands amazed in Diego match
6. Some big forehands as well of late

Generally Goffin is getting better because his biggest weakness, the serve game, is steadily being shored up. Lots of first serves near the line around the 200 kph mark, plus saw some 203 kph. Dangerous, dangerous player right now heading into WTF which by the way is just about lock now.

 

[Thundergod]

Djoko lite rolling in Asia with back to back tournament wins after three year drought. Already 7th in race and has great draw in Shanghai where a weakened Federer is the biggest obstacle to making another final.

Goffin is usually too busy gushing over Fed to beat him.

 

[Meles]

Goffin is usually too busy gushing over Fed to beat him.

Times changing. If it's badbackerer again he won't get by Goffin in his recent form.

 

[ADuck]

No way you can overcome a call like that one.

It was the worst call I've ever seen, but at the end of the day it was just one point so you're overstating how bad it is. I know plenty of players capable of overcoming that mishap.

 

[Sport]

He is solid clay court player, not a clay court specialist.
His counter punching skills are the best on medium fast hard courts. He made ATP breakthrough in Basel 2014 where he reached F.

He is more than a solid clay player! In Montecarlo he defeated Djokovic and Thiem. In Madrid he gave problems to Nadal. Such a same he got injured in RG. He is a great player, and definetely more complete than Thiem. Thiem seems to be a clay specialist, unable to replicate his clay results in other surfaces. The only reason why Thiem didn't win RG 2017 is Nadal.

 

[albertobra]

It was the worst call I've ever seen, but at the end of the day it was just one point so you're overstating how bad it is. I know plenty of players capable of overcoming that mishap.

I respect your opinion, but it was big. As you said, the worst call ever.

Every player gets on court to win a match, no matter who you play against. That point would have given a 4-2 lead on 1st set for Goffin. Goffin was doing everything perfect, especially on RoS.
You know that your chances to beat Nadal on clay are always thin. Goffin organized his match against Rafa perfectly, is game plan was working, Rafa was in trouble in that match. Still, even if leading and playing well, your chances vs. Rafa on clay will remain slim, but with a 4-2 lead Goffin was doing well, and I'd say he had a 30% to bring home the match, which is huge against Nadal on clay.

You organize you match so well, you get everything working fine and suddenly a weird call like that one on a so important point? Your house of cards falls down...no way.
On the other side of the net there is no normal kid, It's Rafa, and it's on clay. You know you have to be 100% focused, and to win a match against Rafa on clay, you can't allow half chance to slip. Goffin's momentum got broken there.

Should he have recovered? Yes he should, and fast. But I don't blame him that he didn't,

 

[ADuck]

I respect your opinion, but it was big. As you said, the worst call ever.

Every player gets on court to win a match, no matter who you play against. That point would have given a 4-2 lead on 1st set for Goffin. Goffin was doing everything perfect, especially on RoS.
You know that your chances to beat Nadal on clay are always thin. Goffin organized his match against Rafa perfectly, is game plan was working, Rafa was in trouble in that match. Still, even if leading and playing well, your chances vs. Rafa on clay will remain slim, but with a 4-2 lead Goffin was doing well, and I'd say he had a 30% to bring home the match, which is huge against Nadal on clay.

You organize you match so well, you get everything working fine and suddenly a weird call like that one on a so important point? Your house of cards falls down...no way.
On the other side of the net there is no normal kid, It's Rafa, and it's on clay. You know you have to be 100% focused, and to win a match against Rafa on clay, you can't allow half chance to slip. Goffin's momentum got broken there.

Should he have recovered? Yes he should, and fast. But I don't blame him that he didn't,

Yeah looking at it from his position, it'd be hard to really keep your cool after that sh*t. Gosh the timing was horrible, but still, he had a choice after that point as to how he was going to let it affect him, unfortunately he really let it get to him and we were robbed of what I think was going to be an epic match. Mourier is mostly to blame for that, but Goffin is as well. If anything, I hope that if there's a next time, Goffin won't react the same way.

 

[albertobra]

Yeah looking at it from his position, it'd be hard to really keep your cool after that sh*t. Gosh the timing was horrible, but still, he had a choice after that point as to how he was going to let it affect him, unfortunately he really let it get to him and we were robbed of what I think was going to be an epic match. Mourier is mostly to blame for that, but Goffin is as well. If anything, I hope that if there's a next time, Goffin won't react the same way.

Well I hope mostly that mistakes like that one remain unique......
I believe there os no way to turn It around. Goffin was totally into the match. Concentration and intemsity 110%. That kind of overule was brutal and will break mental stability.
And I say more. The psycological impact didn't stop at the end of the match. David carried in the backside of his brain that overule for several months. The warm handshake with Cedric at the end of the match with Schwartzman shows that It was a gesture that went over a normal end of match handshake. That handshake signed the end If this ugly chapter.

 

[Nostradamus]

Yea, I like this Goffin dude. Hopefully he can win the tour ending final and Davis cup both.

 

[Meles]

It was the worst call I've ever seen, but at the end of the day it was just one point so you're overstating how bad it is. I know plenty of players capable of overcoming that mishap.