Djokovic Rolls Past Goffin at ATP Finals
Four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic finished off his round-robin play in style on Thursday, cruising past David Goffin 6-1, 6-2 to finish undefeated in his three round-robin matches, clinching his fifth straight ATP World Tour Finals semifinal appearance at the O2 Arena in London.
Goffin, an alternate, was thrust into action after France’s Gael Monfils withdrew with a rib injury.
“Yesterday I felt a bit on holiday, and they tell me I have to play Novak in front of 15,000 people,” Goffin said afterwards. “It was not easy. I didn’t feel really well. I didn’t feel the rhythm. My groundstrokes, my best weapons, were not there. It’s not easy against Novak when it’s like that.”
Djokovic came out firing, converting on two of his four break point chances in the opening set while never facing a break point of his own in the opener. His strong play continued into the second set, converting on both of his break point chances and winning 80 percent of his first serves, dropping just three games overall in the one hour and nine minute contest.
“I’m very glad that my game is going in the right direction. Today I felt the most comfortable, definitely, so far in the tournament. I’m looking forward to the semifinals on Saturday,” said Djokovic. “Everything has been going, as I said, in a positive direction. I’ve been playing better and better as I proceed in the tournament. I have now a day of rest. I’m really looking forward. It’s the last couple matches of the year hopefully.
One thing is for sure: I’m going to give it my all on the court and see what happens.”
Djokovic has now won 21 of his last 22 matches at the ATP Finals, dating back to 2012, the year he won the first of his four straight titles.
