David Goffin advances in Moroccan tournament after defeating Calvin Hemery

The 106th in the world and seeded N.2 in qualifying, got the better of Frenchman Calvin Hemery (ATP 210) 7-6 (9/7), 6-4. The match ended after 1h57 of play.

The Belgian No.1 is playing his first clay court tournament of the season in Morocco, two weeks after his elimination during qualifying for the Masters 1000 in Miami. The 33-year-old from Liège added his name to the Moroccan tournament in 2022, winning his sixth and latest title on the ATP circuit on this occasion.

Goffin had service problems in the first set, losing his shot three times. But his 29-year-old opponent did no better. Trailing 4-5, the Belgian No.1 saved a set point on his serve. In the decisive game, despite a first mini-break made by Hemery (0/2), Goffin managed to win the set on his 3rd set ball (9/7).

The second round was less tense at least at the start. Goffin slipped to 3-0 and 4-1. The Frenchman nevertheless managed to come back to 4-4. This did not trouble the Belgian who concluded on his 2nd match point.

He will face Benjamin Hassan, 156th in the world and seeded N.5 in qualifying, for a place in the final draw. The 29-year-old German defeated unranked Moroccan guest Hamza Karmoussi, 30, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of qualifying.

Onclin wins the Saint-Dizier tournament

Onclin, 279th in the world and seeded N.2, defeated Russian Alibek Kachmazov, 262nd in the world and seeded N., in three sets 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 and 2h57 of play. 1.

The Belgian No.5 made several recoveries in this match. After losing the first set 3-6, he was trailing 1-4 and 3-5 in the 2nd set. He raced behind the score again in the 3rd set when the scoreboard indicated 2-4 and 4-5 in favor of the Russian. This did not prevent Steve Darics’ protégé from knocking down his opponent each time.

Onclin eliminated Limburger Buvasyar Gadamauri, 536th in the world, in the semi-finals while Kachmazov took out Liégeois Raphaël Collignon, 436th in the world and seeded N.9, at the same stage of the competition.

The 23-year-old from Ébennois’ track record now stands at 10 ITF singles titles, the first of the year and the second M25 in his career after that of Nevers in 2022. He also won 3 doubles titles.

2024-03-31 19:54:00
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