David Goffin, fallen to 68th in the world after a difficult start to the season, remains despite everything the Belgian N.1 of the Davis Cup team which he finds after more than two years of absence. The 31-year-old from Liège, who remains on three defeats in the first round on the ATP circuit, believes that he is playing better and better. “I hope I can reproduce this in game“, he said on Tuesday, three days before the start of the meeting in Finland in the Davis Cup play-offs.
“I feel that I find my best tennis and, physically, I am at the bottom. I hope to be able to show it very soon in an official match, hoping that it will be on Friday“, added Goffin, back with the Belgian team after missing matches in Hungary (2020) and Bolivia (2021).
“The atmosphere during the week is always very good and nice but the weekend will be difficult. We have a good team to try and win the game and everyone looks good“, said Goffin before assessing Belgium’s chances of qualification.
“On paper, Belgium are favorites“, quickly launched the right-hander from Rocourt before qualifying his remarks. “It also depends on the time in the season. I haven’t won much this season, Sander (Gillé, editor’s note) and Joran (Vliegen, editor’s note) either. They have a new coach, maybe they are changing some things. On paper, with me in N.1 and the pair of doubles, we are favorites. But Emil Ruusuvuori (ATP 71) and Harri Heliovaara (ATP 50 in doubles) have won a lot this season. The meeting will not be easy to manage.“
“The Goff“has already paid the price for the very good start to the season of the Finnish N.1 against which he lost in three sets in the first round in Doha two weeks ago. “He is a very good player, I think he is even underclassed. He is able to play at a very high level, he has already beaten Alexander Zverev (in Miami in 2021, editor’s note). He is very solid and complete, he has good service and good technique. The hard surface indoors suits him very well. You will have to beat him to put the team in a good position to win“, punctuated Goffin.
Before this disputed meeting in Espoo, Finland’s second city located just 15 km from the capital Helsinki, David Goffin presents the Davis Cup record of 24 wins for 4 defeats in singles. He hasn’t played for Johan Van Herck’s side since the finals at the end of 2019 in Madrid.
