Pierre-Hugues Herbert starts 2021 with a big migraine. For his first match of the year, this Thursday in the first round of the Antalya tournament, the French lost in three sets against David Goffin (3-6, 7-5, 6-0) despite five balls of match on his engagement in the second set.
In a meeting marked by repeated breaks (13 in total), “P2H” had yet managed to keep the Belgian in his doubts, born of a completely failed end of the year 2020 with a series of five defeats and twelve sets lost. ‘in a row.
Incisive on the second balls of the 16th in the world (67% of points gained on the return on them in the first set), Herbert stole his commitment three times to win the first round.
5 match points then the black hole
Despite a break from the lead at the start of the second set, the Frenchman took control at 4-4 to serve as the winner of the match. He got five match points, two back to back at 40-15, but Goffin saved them all and the game was over.
After this break, Herbert did not register any more play. He did not even obtain any more game point until the end of the match, concluded with a terrible 6-0. This is his sixth loss in six matches against the Belgian. From 6-3, 5-4, 40-15 to 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, the 83rd in the world has lost nine games in a row.
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