Jordan Thompson (78th) beat David Goffin (71st) in the first round at Indian Wells and further evidenced the low level of the Belgian, a tennis player who for years was able to bother the best rackets in the world but who was slowly losing ground. So far this season, he has recorded five celebrations and eight losses.
The Australian advanced after a very close match, which ended up being defined by details in the decisive set. After two hours and 44 minutes, he eliminated him 4-6, 7-5 and 7-6 (3) and caused Goffin a new frustration: With this defeat, he accumulates four consecutive falls in the debut in an ATP tournament. In addition, there are already five eliminations in a row.
Before arriving at the California pageant, he said goodbye early at the ATP 250 in Rotterdam against the Australian Alex De Miñaur; at the ATP 250 in Doha he fell to the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori, while at the ATP 500 in Dubai he suffered a painful defeat against the Japanese Taro Daniel. It is worth mentioning, however, that he was able to celebrate in the Davis Cup duels between Belgium and Finland.
With many physical problems involved and injuries that took him away from the center of the scene, the Belgian began to move away from the top positions in the ATP ranking, a classification that saw him in seventh position in 2017.
Currently, it is going through a meager moment and its fall is becoming more and more prolonged. In 2021, he played 29 games, with a balance of 14 wins and 15 falls. That year, however, he was able to win the title at the ATP 250 in Montpellier after beating Roberto Bautista Agut in the definition, which meant his fifth ATP trophy.
A frustration against Mackenzie McDonald at the US Open in August last year marked the end of his 2021 season, in which he started 16th on the planet and finished it 39th.
Already in 2022, and at the age of 31, the man born in Liège cannot raise his head and successfully solve matches that, a priori, make him the favorite. In full descent, he is in 71st place and will need feedback on his tennis to compete again against the best in the world.
