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David Goffin (10, 7)David Goffin has cracked the hard Serbian nut Filip Krajinovic in 3 sets. Krajinovic played too unstable to disturb Goffin: 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) and 6-4. It is the 4th year in a row that Goffin has reached the 1 / 8th finals.
David Goffin had a first real test in New York with Filip Krajinovic, number 26 in the world. But in the first set, the Serbian was not on the ball. His error burden was great and Goffin did not have to push for 6-1.
From the second set we did get a match. Krajinovic went for every ball as if it were his last, keeping pace with Goffin. In the tiebreak, the Serbian did not give up at a 4-0 deficit, but Goffin still pulled the sheet to himself.
Also in the third set it was a duel between Goffin’s steadfastness and Krajinovic’s inconstancy. When Goffin hit the accelerator at 5-4, Krajinovic creaked. A double fault and 3 forehand winners from Goffin and the booty was in for our compatriot: 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 after just over 2 hours.
For the fourth time in a row Goffin is in the eighth finals of the US OPen, but that was always the end station. The US Open is the only Grand Slam where Goffin has never reached the last eight.
This time he will have to get past the winner of the game between Canadian Denis Shapovalov (ATP-17) and American Taylor Fritz (ATP-25) in the eighth finals.
Goffin: “This is very promising for the continuation of the US Open”
“I am especially very satisfied with the way I played”, Goffin admitted afterwards. “I knew Krajinovic would be a strong opponent who could cause problems. I was ready for a real fight.”
“Last week he had settled dryly with Dominic Thiem, so I knew I had to be up to scratch. That also worked, even from the start of the match.” Goffin had his game plan ready.
“The intention was to play aggressive returns on his serve and I succeeded. I put pressure on him and made a difference. This is very promising for the rest of the tournament.”
