Close. Thus, Goffin is through to his 12th ATP final and the first since the ATP Finals in 2017, seeking the first trophy since Tokyo that year after a rock-solid win over the rival who had won eight straight matches on grass and the title in Stuttgart before this clash.

Since Barcelona 2018, the Belgian was the semi-finalist on the Tour only three times and went to Halle following the quarter-final run in s-Hertogenbosch and he has finally found the winning formula in Germany, beating Matteo Berrettini 7-6, 6-3 in an hour and 37 minutes. Goffin answers with a point, but misses badly on an approach shot for 15-30. He hits another service winner for game point, but then sprays a backhand to return it to deuce. Goffin then sends a return long for the hold and he’s backed up the break.Goffin immediately behind love-30, making an error on the opening point and watching Federer hit a gorgeous backhand winner up the line. He needs only one, closing it out with a service winner!At 15-all, Federer hits a forehand winner. Two points from the match. Oh boy. Federer at his imperious best in his service games today, dropping only five points on his serve in the opener. David Goffin mounted a spirited fightback to stun six-time champion Roger Federer and reach the final of the season-ending ATP Finals in London. Finally, Goffin sends a cross-court backhand long and Federer has the hard-won break to open the match after nearly eight minutes.He’s won all six matches against Goffin, dropping only two sets along the way.The players have just taken the court for their warm-ups and we should be underway shortly. Goffin then overcooks a forehand from behind the baseline and Federer has a third look at a break point. Love-40 and triple break point for Federer.

Goffin nets another backhand and it’s a fourth break-point chance for Federer. This could have proved to be even more important when he earned a break point in the next game, denied with another good attack from Goffin who grabbed the first break of the match a few minutes later to move 5-3 in front. An ominous sign for Goffin.

Federer pounces on a Goffin second serve for a winner, but he nets a backhand on the net point and Goffin has a pair of match points. After more than four and a half years, David Goffin had to drop out from the top-30 after Roland Garros, never finding the form in the last year or so. Roger Federer vs David Goffin all matches, with stats on their H2H rivalry. In the blink of an eye the Belgian is halfway home in the second.Goffin forces it to 30-all for a rare stab at a Federer service game. Now Goffin nets a backhand for 30-all and the crowd swells in anticipation. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Now Goffin hits a forehand winner for game point and Federer misses on a backhand return, giving Goffin the hold from break point down. Another bad miss by Goffin on the next point, which he challenges unsuccessfully, gives Federer a break-point chance, but he squanders it with an unforced error for deuce. He is incredible, but I will try to be ready to beat him." Roger Federer beat David Goffin with ease, winning 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 against the player who grew up idolising him, and reaching his 56th grand slam quarter-final This video has been removed. Federer will now serve to stay in the second set.Three quick points for Federer – that’s seven straight on his serve since the break – before he finally makes an error for 40-15. He opens it with aces of 121mph and 115mph, the 12th and 13th consecutive points he’s won on his serve. But Goffin dictates a rally from the baseline until Federer nets a backhand for 30-all. His career high ranking is world No. Three set points on deck but he needs only one, finishing off the love hold with a winner that gives him the opening set in 27 minutes. Federer opens with a pair of service winners, followed by an overhand smash for 40-love. Goffin aces, then misses wide on an inside-out forehand on the approach and Federer has a pair of break-point chances not two minutes into the match. ATP & WTA Roger Federer head to head tennis search. Deuce. Goffin saves the first when Federer nets a backhand, then the second with a service winner. He’s held for 3-1 in the opener.Goffin races to 40-love on a run of quick points, then sits back as Federer pounds a return into the net. Federer answers with a love hold of his own but will need to make progress on Goffin’s serve if he’s to get back on level terms in this set.A crucially important service game for Goffin to back up the break and he comes through with brio, rattling off four quick points for the hold at love. Goffin mishits a backhand and Federer jumps on the short ball for an easy winner, but the Swiss follows with an unforced error for 15-all. Serving for the triumph, David delivered three service winner in the ninth game to seal the deal and advance into the first ATP final in more than a year and a half where he will face Roger Federer. Third set: Federer 6-2, 3-6, 4-5 Goffin* (*denotes next server) At 15-all, Federer hits a forehand winner. Goffin pulls one back on a Federer unforced error, but he follows with a missed forehand down the line and Federer has another break-point chance, this one a set point. Goffin lies back and lets the point unfold before crushing a cross-court backhand winner just as Federer came to net. He then hits a gorgeous drop-shot winner from the baseline that flummoxes Goffin, followed by an even-more-gorgeous forehand winner on the run that brings the crowd to its feet. I have worked hard in the last few months and it is paying off now," said Goffin. He’s playing like he’s trying to make the early bird special.Two quick points for Federer and Goffin is in danger of letting this opening set get out of hand. He needs only one of them, however, ripping a service winner to close out the second set and force a decider here at the O2 Arena. The Swiss great is two points away from another break and the first set. And he’s got it! Goffin then makes an unforced error off the forehand side followed by a Federer winner and the Swiss holds.