Google News Lucky loser David Goffin reacts to shock victory over Carlos Alcaraz at Astana Open
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 2348
Former world No. 7 David Goffin said he believed he could beat Carlos Alcaraz after upsetting the first-seeded Spaniard at the Astana Open. On Tuesday, Goffin ousted Alcaraz 7-5 6-3 in the Astana Open first round. Goffin, who is now the 66th-ranked player in the world and entered the Astana Open main draw as a lucky loser, turned back the clock on Tuesday and sent Alcaraz packing out of the Kazakh capital.
"I always believe that I have the level to cause some trouble against those guys," Goffin said, per the ATP website. "Of course it has not been my best period, I haven't been playing really well in the past few tournaments, but I always believe and practice and you never know.
When you play against the World No. 1 on a big stage, big crowd, the fire inside gives you so much power to play your best tennis because you don't have any choice. You have to fight and give your best and that was the case today.
I always believed I had it and I am happy you can still it there."
Goffin saw off Alcaraz in straight sets
Alcaraz earned the first break of the match in the third game before Goffin responded with back-to-back breaks to win four games in a row and take a 5-2 lead.
Down by a break in the first set, Alcaraz refused to quit as he broke Goffin and tied the first set to five games apiece. Just when it seemed the momentum was on Alcaraz's side, he lost his service again in the 12th game - when he was serving to stay in the first set.
After winning the first set, Goffin got off to a great start to the second set as he claimed two early breaks and led 5-1 after the opening six games. Alcaraz managed to get one break back but couldn't get back the second as Goffin served out for the match in the ninth game.
It was the second meeting between Goffin and Alcaraz and the head-to-head between the two now stands at 1-1.