David Goffin (ATP 48) was satisfied on Tuesday after qualifying for the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament on clay in Rome. The 31-year-old from Liège continued the momentum of his good run in Madrid last week, beating 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/2) the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (ATP 12), 25 years old, seeded N.11, after dismissing three first set balls.
“It was a tough game, especially after Madrid“, told David Goffin to Belgian after his victory. “The conditions were different, because at altitude, the ball leaves more easily. Here, it’s much slower, the balls are heavier. Today, it was hard to finish the points, especially since Hubi (Editor’s note: the nickname ofHubert Hurkacz) is large and glides well. It also serves very well. So we had to stay focused, which I did very well until 7-6, 5-3. And then suddenly, I pass a little less first balls, he is a little more aggressive, I miss one or two forehands and we had to fight until the tie-break. Fortunately, I deliver a very good tie-break to conclude. It’s a great victory for me. It may not be his favorite surface, but it makes me feel good. I continue on clay. I feel a lot better, I have a lot more confidence in my qualities and that’s the most important thing at the moment. And I continue in this tournament which smiles at me.“
David Goffin, who has already reached the quarter-finals three times in Rome, will already be back on the court this Wednesday for his second round. In the fourth match of the day, on court n°1, the Belgian n°1 will face the American Jenson Brooksby (ATP 38), 21, scorer 6-3, 6-4 from the Italian Flavio Cobolli (ATP 150), recipient of an invitation.
