Goffin Shocks Federer In London

David Goffin was perplexed.

After he reached the Nitto ATP Finals semi-finals, the Belgian was asked what he would have to do to beat Roger Federer for the first time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Goffin had been 0-6 in their head-to-head, including a 6-1, 6-2 loss in the semi-finals of the Swiss Indoors Basel last month.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to do tomorrow,” Goffin said.

The Belgian did some quick thinking. Goffin shocked Federer on Saturday, coming back from a set down to eliminate the second seed and pick up his first win against the Swiss, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Goffin, who qualified in London for the first time this week, will now play for the biggest title of his career on Sunday. The Belgian has won four ATP World Tour crowns, including an ATP World Tour 500 at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2017 earlier this year.

But the 26-year-old had never reached a bigger final title match, either at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, a Grand Slam or the Nitto ATP Finals. On Sunday, Goffin will meet either Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov or Jack Sock of the U.S.

 Watch Full Match Replays

“I have no words. I cannot describe,” Goffin said on court. “I’m so happy.”

Goffin hinted he might have a preference as to who he faces on the final day of the 2017 season. The seventh seed faced Dimitrov in Group Pete Sampras play, falling 6-0, 6-2.

“If you watched some matches this week you know the answer,” Goffin said, smiling.

The Belgian is 1-3 against Dimitrov in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, but 3-0 against Sock in their head-to-head.

Regardless of Sunday’s result, though, this has already been the best week of Goffin’s career. He started his stay at The O2 by celebrating the biggest win of his career, a 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 upset against World No. 1 Rafael Nadal. Goffin then had a blip, falling to Dimitrov in only 75 minutes.

But he again summoned supreme tennis on Sunday to beat Federer. Goffin becomes the first player to beat the Top 2 players at the Nitto ATP Finals since 2009, when champion Nikolay Davydenko beat No. 2 Nadal in group play and No. 1 Federer in the semi-finals.