Kevin Mitchell's match report
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David Goffin has finally defeated his childhood idol for the first time in seven career meetings. And what a way to do it: rallying from a set down on a stage where Federer has played so extraordinarily well down the years.
Goffin becomes only the sixth player ever to defeat Federer and Rafael Nadal at the same event.
Goffin wins 2-6, 6-3, 6-4!
Third set: Federer 6-2, 3-6, 4-6 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Biggest service game of Goffin’s career? And away we go. He opens it with aces of 121mph and 115mph, the 12th and 13th consecutive points he’s won on his serve. Two points from the match. Federer pounces on a Goffin second serve for a winner, but he nets a backhand on the net point and Goffin has a pair of match points. He needs only one, closing it out with a service winner!
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Third set: Federer 6-2, 3-6, 4-5 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
At 15-all, Federer hits a forehand winner. But Goffin dictates a rally from the baseline until Federer nets a backhand for 30-all. The Belgian now two points from the finish line, but Federer hits a pair of winners for the hold. Goffin to serve for the match after the change of ends.
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Third set: *Federer 6-2, 3-6, 3-5 Goffin (*denotes next server)
... followed by an equally fast love hold for Goffin. Now Federer, with new balls, will serve to stay in the match.
Third set: Federer 6-2, 3-6, 3-4 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
It’s a lightning-quick hold for Federer ...
Third set: *Federer 6-2, 3-6, 2-4 Goffin (*denotes next server)
At 15-all, a pressure point for Federer is afoot when he misses on a serve to fall behind 15-30, which he challenges unsuccessfully. Goffin now two points from a commanding double-break advantage in the decider, but Federer rattles off two quick points for 40-30. Now he’s pounded a forehand winner to earn the hold, but Goffin is still ahead a break and Federer is running out of time and opportunities to turn this one around.
Third set: Federer 6-2, 3-6, 2-3 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Goffin is locked in, simply crushing that forehand point and point. He sprints out to 40-love and finishes off the hold when Federer overcooks a backhand from the baseline.
Third set: Federer 6-2, 3-6, 2-3 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Federer races to 40-love including a 125mph ace, then finishes off the love hold with a service winner. A clinical hold of serve, but he’s still trailing by a break and will need to make headway on Goffin’s serve if he has any hope of winning this match.
Third set: *Federer 6-2, 3-6, 1-3 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Goffin misplays what should have been an easy passing shot and Federer is into the Belgian’s serve at love-15. Goffin answers with a point, but misses badly on an approach shot for 15-30. The crowd buzzes between points. Federer then misfires on a forehand from the baseline for 30-all, then misses on a passing shot for 40-30 (which he challenges unsuccessfully). And how Goffin double-faults for the first time today. Oh boy. Deuce. Lengthy rally breaks out and Federer ends with with a forehand winner for a break point. Goffin saves it with a calm volley winner at the net after running Federer beyond the alleyway with a tightly angled forehand. Now Goffin hits a forehand winner for game point and Federer misses on a backhand return, giving Goffin the hold from break point down.
Goffin breaks in third game of third set!
Third set: Federer 6-2, 3-6, 1-2 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Goffin hits a return winner and Federer is behind on his serve, a rarity today, at love-15. Now he makes another error and a massive opportunity has suddenly opened for Goffin at love-30. Federer pulls a point back, but Goffin pounds a backhand down the line that Federer can only return to position Goffin for smash winner for 15-40 and a pair of break-point chances. Federer saves the first of them but Goffin’s backhand winner on the ensuing point gives him the early break in this decider!
Third set: *Federer 6-2, 3-6, 1-1 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Goffin opens with an error then Federer rips a forehand winner for love-30. A big chance for the Swiss here on Goffin’s serve. Goffin fights back for 30-all, then Federer nets a forehand from the baseline to give the Belgian game point. Federer then misses again on the forehand and Goffin has the hold from love-30 down.
Third set: Federer 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Federer with a quite Federer-like service game, getting on the board early in the decider. He’ll be serving from ahead from here on out, putting the pressure squarely on the Belgian.
Goffin wins second set!
Second set: Federer 6-2, 3-6 Goffin
Three quick points for Goffin and he’s got three set points. He needs only one of them, however, ripping a service winner to close out the second set and force a decider here at the O2 Arena. It’s only the third set Goffin’s won against Federer in seven career meetings.
Second set: Federer 6-2, 3-5 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Federer wins a pair of quick points before Goffin rips a forehand winner. Federer than makes his first double fault of the match for 30-all and Goffin is two points from leveling this match. Goffin then makes an unforced error off the forehand side followed by a Federer winner and the Swiss holds. Now Goffin, with new balls, will attempt to serve out the second set.
Second set: *Federer 6-2, 2-5 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Goffin, far more efficient on his serve in this set, races to 30-love before Federer hits a winner for 30-15. Now Goffin nets a backhand for 30-all and the crowd swells in anticipation. Another bad miss by Goffin on the next point, which he challenges unsuccessfully, gives Federer a break-point chance, but he squanders it with an unforced error for deuce. Goffin then dials in a 122mph ace for game point followed by a volley winner that Federer can scarcely get a racket on. Federer will now serve to stay in the second set.
Second set: Federer 6-2, 2-4 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Three quick points for Federer – that’s seven straight on his serve since the break – before he finally makes an error for 40-15. Now Goffin hits another winner for 40-30, but Federer holds with a service winner.
Second set: *Federer 6-2, 1-4 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Federer with a sneak attack on Goffin’s serve for a quick winner, but Goffin rattles off a pair of points for 30-15. They trade unforced errors for 40-30, but then Federer rips a forehand winner that paints the baseline for deuce. Close. Goffin momentarily considers challenging it but elects to play on. Now Goffin hits a forehand winner down the line, a shot that betrayed him consistently in the first set, and follows it with another winner for the hold.
Second set: *Federer 6-2, 1-3 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Federer answers with a love hold of his own but will need to make progress on Goffin’s serve if he’s to get back on level terms in this set.
Second set: *Federer 6-2, 0-3 Goffin (*denotes next server)
A crucially important service game for Goffin to back up the break and he comes through with brio, rattling off four quick points for the hold at love. In the blink of an eye the Belgian is halfway home in the second.
Goffin breaks in second game of second set!
Second set: Federer 6-2, 0-2 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Goffin forces it to 30-all for a rare stab at a Federer service game. Federer follows with a winner but Goffin forces an error for deuce. The Swiss follows with a service winner, but then misses on a backhand from the baseline for deuce number two. Federer forces Goffin into another error for another game point, but sends a backhand into the net on the next point for deuce. Now Goffin hits a winner and the Belgian has his first look at a break point today. And he’s got it! Goffin lies back and lets the point unfold before crushing a cross-court backhand winner just as Federer came to net. Brilliantly played by Goffin and Federer has been broken for only the third time in 46 service games at this year’s ATP World Tour Finals. He’d faced only 12 break points at the event before that one, saving 10 of them.
Second set: *Federer 6-2, 0-1 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Goffin makes an error on the opening point, but hits a pair of winners for 30-15. Federer than rips a backhand winner up the line for 30-all, but Goffin answers with a shrewd backhand volley winner followed by a Federer error to come away with the hold.
Federer wins first set!
First set: Federer 6-2 Goffin
Federer opens with a pair of service winners, followed by an overhand smash for 40-love. Three set points on deck but he needs only one, finishing off the love hold with a winner that gives him the opening set in 27 minutes. Federer at his imperious best in his service games today, dropping only five points on his serve in the opener. An ominous sign for Goffin.
First set: *Federer 5-2 Goffin (*denotes next server)
At 15-all, Federer hits a beautiful drop-shot winner to put the pressure on Goffin again. The Swiss great is two points away from another break and the first set. Goffin pulls one back on a Federer unforced error, but he follows with a missed forehand down the line and Federer has another break-point chance, this one a set point. He’s unable to capitalize, however, as he puts a forehand into the net for deuce. Now he misses on another forehand from the baseline and Goffin has a game point, but Goffin’s forehand lets him down (again) and it’s back to deuce. Goffin then pounces on a short ball for another game point, and he has the hold when Federer sends a backhand from the baseline a few inches long. Now Federer will have a chance to serve out the opening set.
First set: Federer 5-1 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Federer rattles off a quick love hold, mixing in a serve-and-volley capped by a backhand winner on the penultimate point. He’s playing like he’s trying to make the early bird special.
Federer breaks in fifth game of first set!
First set: *Federer 4-1 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Two quick points for Federer and Goffin is in danger of letting this opening set get out of hand. The Belgian then comes to net at the end of a baseline rally and Federer makes his pay with a picturesque one-handed backhand winner down the line. Love-40 and triple break point for Federer. Goffin saves the first and then the second, but Federer runs his opponent ragged on the next point until he’s able to hit a clincial backhand volley winner into an open court to finish off the service break.
First set: Federer 3-1 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Goffin mishits a backhand and Federer jumps on the short ball for an easy winner, but the Swiss follows with an unforced error for 15-all. They trade points for 30-all, but Goffin then sprays a backhand from the baseline and, on the next point, Federer hits a backhand volley winner at the net, adjusting adroitly when the ball skips off the netcord. He’s held for 3-1 in the opener.
First set: *Federer 2-1 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Goffin races to 40-love on a run of quick points, then sits back as Federer pounds a return into the net. An easy love hold and the Belgian is on the board.
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First set: Federer 2-0 Goffin* (*denotes next server)
Federer opens with a quick service winner but nets a forehand early in the next point for 15-all. He then hits a gorgeous drop-shot winner from the baseline that flummoxes Goffin, followed by an even-more-gorgeous forehand winner on the run that brings the crowd to its feet. Federer then mixes in a couple of errors for deuce, but follows with a winner for game point. Goffin then sends a return long for the hold and he’s backed up the break.
Federer breaks in first game of first set!
First set: *Federer 1-0 Goffin (*denotes next server)
Goffin immediately behind love-30, making an error on the opening point and watching Federer hit a gorgeous backhand winner up the line. Goffin aces, then misses wide on an inside-out forehand on the approach and Federer has a pair of break-point chances not two minutes into the match. Goffin saves the first when Federer nets a backhand, then the second with a service winner. He hits another service winner for game point, but then sprays a backhand to return it to deuce. Goffin then overcooks a forehand from behind the baseline and Federer has a third look at a break point. A lengthy baseline rally breaks out, ending when Federer comes to net and nets a forehand volley. Back to deuce. Goffin nets another backhand and it’s a fourth break-point chance for Federer. Another greulling baseline rally and Federer blinks again for deuce, but Goffin sends a forehand long on the next point and it’s break point number five for Federer. Finally, Goffin sends a cross-court backhand long and Federer has the hard-won break to open the match after nearly eight minutes.
It’s been a resurgent year for the great Federer, who’s captured seven titles including the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Should he win today and tomorrow, he will finish the year a scant 140 points behind Rafael Nadal for the world No1 ranking. He’s lost four matches all year.
He’s won all six matches against Goffin, dropping only two sets along the way.
Preamble
Hi there and welcome to today’s semi-final between Roger Federer and David Goffin at the O2 Arena. The winner of today’s match, the third-to-last of the season, advances to Sunday’s final against either Jack Sock or Grigor Dimitrov, who face off later today.
The players have just taken the court for their warm-ups and we should be underway shortly.
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