Djokovic outguns Goffin
Nov 18, 2016, London, Agencies
Tennis ATP World Tour Finals : Serbian drubs Belgian in straight sets; Wawrinka edges past Cilic
Defending champion Novak Djokovic trounced stand-in David Goffin 6-1, 6-2 for a clean sweep of his group at the ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday but still looked far from happy as he picked a row with the chair umpire.
Belgium’s Goffin pocketed $179,000 for his brief appearance, courtesy of an injury that forced Gael Monfils to withdraw on Wednesday, earning almost $60,000 for each game he won in a no-contest lasting 69 minutes.
It was poor value for the O2 Arena crowd and nothing more than a gentle workout for Djokovic who did his best to enliven the flat atmosphere by having a lively exchange of views with umpire Fergus Murphy after being given a time violation.
Djokovic, who had already won the group after wins over Dominic Thiem and Milos Raonic, was given the warning for going over the 25-second time limit while serving at 3-1.
Djokovic, whose year has tailed off since he claimed the French Open in June and was usurped as world number one by Andy Murray last week, has been prickly in London and argued with a reporter during a news conference on Sunday.
The Serb, who could snatch back the world number one ranking from Murray if he wins a fifth successive title in London, did not let the flare-up effect his progress and broke for the second time in the next game. World number 11 Goffin was coming in cold and never really got to grips with the court surface, the unique setting or his clinical opponent and despite some occasional flashes of his silky shot-making he was never in it.
Djokovic will face the runner-up of the John McEnroe group in the semifinals, be it Murray, Kei Nishikori or Stan Wawrinka. That group will be decided on Friday.
Later on Thursday Canada's Raonic and Austrian Thiem face off with the winner joining Djokovic in the semis.
On Wednesday, Wawrinka out fought Marin Cilic to keep alive his chances of qualifying for the semifinals.
Third seed Wawrinka, who saved one set point in the first set, earned a confidence boosting 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) victory over seventh seed Cilic in one hour and 58 minutes in Group John McEnroe. Chances were few in the first set, but Cilic was able to create one set point opportunity at 5-4, with Wawrinka serving at 30/40.
In the tie-break, Wawrinka won six of the first eight and hit 12 winners and committed 11 unforced errors on his forehand in the 55-minute opener.
Cilic got off to the best possible start to the second set by breaking Wawrinka to 30 in the opening game, but the Croatian’s lead was short-lived.
Wawrinka began to control the baseline, forcing Cilic deeper and to play more backhand strokes. Cilic could not convert two break points in the fifth game, and was left to rue missed opportunities. In the inevitable tie-break, Wawrinka gained a 4/2 advantage and with pin-point serving calmly closed out his 11th victory in 13 meetings against Cilic.
Belgium’s Goffin pocketed $179,000 for his brief appearance, courtesy of an injury that forced Gael Monfils to withdraw on Wednesday, earning almost $60,000 for each game he won in a no-contest lasting 69 minutes.
It was poor value for the O2 Arena crowd and nothing more than a gentle workout for Djokovic who did his best to enliven the flat atmosphere by having a lively exchange of views with umpire Fergus Murphy after being given a time violation.
Djokovic, who had already won the group after wins over Dominic Thiem and Milos Raonic, was given the warning for going over the 25-second time limit while serving at 3-1.
Djokovic, whose year has tailed off since he claimed the French Open in June and was usurped as world number one by Andy Murray last week, has been prickly in London and argued with a reporter during a news conference on Sunday.
The Serb, who could snatch back the world number one ranking from Murray if he wins a fifth successive title in London, did not let the flare-up effect his progress and broke for the second time in the next game. World number 11 Goffin was coming in cold and never really got to grips with the court surface, the unique setting or his clinical opponent and despite some occasional flashes of his silky shot-making he was never in it.
Djokovic will face the runner-up of the John McEnroe group in the semifinals, be it Murray, Kei Nishikori or Stan Wawrinka. That group will be decided on Friday.
Later on Thursday Canada's Raonic and Austrian Thiem face off with the winner joining Djokovic in the semis.
On Wednesday, Wawrinka out fought Marin Cilic to keep alive his chances of qualifying for the semifinals.
Third seed Wawrinka, who saved one set point in the first set, earned a confidence boosting 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) victory over seventh seed Cilic in one hour and 58 minutes in Group John McEnroe. Chances were few in the first set, but Cilic was able to create one set point opportunity at 5-4, with Wawrinka serving at 30/40.
In the tie-break, Wawrinka won six of the first eight and hit 12 winners and committed 11 unforced errors on his forehand in the 55-minute opener.
Cilic got off to the best possible start to the second set by breaking Wawrinka to 30 in the opening game, but the Croatian’s lead was short-lived.
Wawrinka began to control the baseline, forcing Cilic deeper and to play more backhand strokes. Cilic could not convert two break points in the fifth game, and was left to rue missed opportunities. In the inevitable tie-break, Wawrinka gained a 4/2 advantage and with pin-point serving calmly closed out his 11th victory in 13 meetings against Cilic.
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