First-Round Thriller at Brussels Expo
David Goffin postponed his professional tennis farewell on October 21, overcoming a deficit to defeat lucky loser Remy Bertola 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a two-hour and seven-minute opening match at the European Open, according to reporting by RTL Info. Competing at the Palais 12 venue in Brussels, the 35-year-old Belgian fell behind 0-3 in the deciding third set and needed to save a break point for a 0-4 deficit before securing the victory. The Liège native was playing the Swiss qualifier, ranked 227th globally, for the first time on the circuit, while another player affected by the schedule shifts was Raphaël Collignon.
The tournament marks the final stop of a 17-year professional career for the former world number seven. Ranked 657th at the time of the tournament, Goffin advanced to face fifth-seeded American Alex Michelsen in the second round, where he ultimately bowed out 6-3, 6-4.
Retirement Decision Rooted in Injury History
Goffin’s decision to conclude his career at the ATP 250 indoor hardcourt event in Brussels followed a series of physical setbacks, most notably knee issues that interrupted his play through 2023 and late 2025, BX1 reported. Sur le circuit principal, le joueur belge a capté plusieurs titres au cours de sa carrière, notamment à Montpellier en 2021 et à Marrakech en 2022. Following a left wrist surgery for a scaphoid fracture in September 2013, he claimed his first ATP circuit title in July 2014 on the clay courts of Kitzbühel by defeating local star Dominic Thiem in the final, adding another title in Metz and reaching a final in Basel against Roger Federer that same year while earning the circuit’s Comeback Player of the Year award alongside four Challenger titles in Scheveningen, Poznań, Tampere, and Mons. He relocated to Monte-Carlo in 2014 and began his partnership with coach Thierry Van Cleemput, which lasted until 2019.
His career milestones include reaching the quarterfinals at three Grand Slam tournaments—the Australian Open in 2017, Roland-Garros in 2016, and Wimbledon in 2019 and 2022—alongside a runner-up finish at the ATP Finals in London in 2017. He also led Belgium to two Davis Cup finals, in 2015 and 2017. His 2017 campaign also featured finals in Sofia and Rotterdam and a semifinal at the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 before a right ankle injury from a fall against a tarpaulin at Roland-Garros halted his momentum, though he rebounded in the autumn to win consecutive titles in Shenzhen and Tokyo. His career also included victories against Rafael Nadal, against whom he recorded two wins and five losses, and Novak Djokovic, with one win and seven losses, alongside encounters with Andy Murray, the sole member of the Big Four he never defeated. Further physical obstacles included an eye injury from a ball struck at Rotterdam in 2018, a right elbow injury that same year, an ankle injury at Halle in 2021, and a left knee stress fracture, in addition to Challenger titles at the BW Open in Louvain-la-Neuve in 2023 and his final career title on June 22, 2024, in Ilkley, Great Britain.
AT LEAST ONE MORE MATCH 🇧🇪 David Goffin battles back to defeat Remy Bertola 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes in Brussels. Extending his career for at least one more round in his final professional tournament. pic.twitter.com/Jn16EjDajT
Peaceful Resolution in Brussels
Reflecting on his final week on tour after his subsequent second-round loss to Michelsen, Goffin told RTBF that he departed without lingering regrets. “I am relieved, at peace with myself and very happy with what I experienced this week in Brussels,” Goffin said. “The public responded and I experienced great emotions.” He noted that he felt tense prior to the week because he wanted to display great tennis one final time, a goal he felt he achieved despite doubts weeks prior.
The veteran added that his immediate post-retirement plans include distance running. “I still have running to do because a marathon awaits me,” he told RTBF. “It will be necessary to put on shoes again—but different shoes.” Summarizing his 18 years on tour, he noted that the time passed quickly and highlighted emotions, meetings, and shared moments as defining aspects, expressing gratitude for the love shown by his family, close ones, and the public.
Next Generation Steps Into the Spotlight
As Goffin exits the tour, compatriot Raphaël Collignon finds himself stepping into a prominent role within Belgian tennis. “It’s not easy to follow David,” Collignon said, noting that public recognition has shifted significantly following his own breakthrough performances. Four or five days prior to the Brussels tournament, he had been uncertain whether he would participate.
Collignon added that he frequently interacts with younger prospects at the training center in Mons, consciously adopting a mentorship role similar to the guidance he received earlier from former player Steve Darcis. Reflecting on his growing notoriety following exploits at the US Open and in the Davis Cup, he mentioned that spectators now travel specifically to watch him play, though he remains grounded and aims to serve as a positive example for younger players.
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