Goffin Saves 5 Set Points, Ousts Bublik In Montpellier

Alexander Bublik pulled out all the tricks from his bag, including an underarm serve, but it was not enough against David Goffin on Thursday in Montpellier. The second-seeded Belgian star saved five set points in the second set to defeat the Kazakh 6-3, 7-6(9) and advance to the quarter-finals of the Open Sud de France.

Goffin was in danger of being pushed to a decider against the shotmaking 22-year-old, but he was clutch under pressure to triumph after one hour and 47 minutes. In the big moments, the World No. 10 had an answer for Bublik’s aggression, whether by threading the needle with a perfect passing shot or winning cat-and-mouse battles up at the net.

On Bublik’s final set-point opportunity, the Kazakh hit an underarm serve to try to catch Goffin off guard, but the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up took advantage by lacing a backhand down the line. Goffin will next play fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or home favourite and close friend Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

The Belgian has enjoyed a strong start to his 2020 season, winning three of his four matches at the inaugural ATP Cup, including a victory against then-World No. 1 Rafael Nadal. Goffin is pursuing his first ATP Tour title since 2017 Tokyo.

Seventh seed Filip Krajinovic also advanced with a 6-1, 6-1 win against 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier Mikael Ymer of Sweden. The Serbian earned 15 break points in his 78-minute triumph, converting six of those chances.

Krajinovic will next play Frenchman Gregoire Barrere, who upset former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday. It will be the pair’s first ATP Head2Head meeting.