David Goffin happy with his start to clay season at Monte Carlo Masters

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Belgian tennis star David Goffin didn't hide his happiness after starting his clay season on a positive start. Goffin, seeded at No. 11 in the Monte Carlo Masters main draw, was handed a tough opener in Monaco but he delivered a good performance on Sunday and beat 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-4 3-6 6-0.

Goffin was playing his first on clay this season. "It’s a good win. [This is my] first tournament on clay [in 2021]. Starting with a victory is good. It’s a good way of starting the tournament, and I’m happy,” said Goffin, per the ATP website.

“I did what I needed to do to win that match. I was playing better and better… In the first and second set, I had problems with the returns. In the third set, I was more consistent. It was a good match”.

Goffin came up big in key moments

Cilic made a good start to the match as he saved a break point in the first game and then converted his first break point in the following game to take an early 3-0 lead.

However, Cilic's lead was short-lived as Goffin saved three game points in the sixth game to break back the Croatian and level the set at three games apiece. Cilic had another break point in the eighth game but failed to convert as Goffin served out to level the set at four games apiece.

Cilic paid the price for blowing two consecutive game points in the ninth game as Goffin converted his break point to take a 5-4 lead. After breaking Cilic in the ninth game, Goffin had no problems serving out for the opener.

Goffin broke Cilic early in the second set to take a 2-1 lead but the Croatian responded with back-to-back breaks to win four games in a row and take a 5-2 lead. Goffin won the eighth game to reduce the deficit to 5-3 but Cilic served out for the set in the following game.

After losing the second set, Goffin absolutely dominated Cilic in the third set as he claimed three breaks and lost no service games to win the match.