"I cannot be happier today," says Belgian, who is closing in on ATP World Tour Finals
Sunday 1 October 2017 17:04, UK
It was seventh time lucky for David Goffin after the Belgian beat Alexandr Dolgopolov over three sets to win the Shenzhen Open on Sunday.
The world No 12 Goffin tasted defeat in his last six finals, a bitter run stretching back to 2014.
But the 26-year-old made up for three years of disappointment with a determined display against the Ukrainian Dolgopolov to seal the title 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 in just over two hours in southern China.
He adds the Shenzhen trophy to the two titles he won in 2014 in Metz and Kitzbuehel.
"This one is really special because you know it's always tough to come back from injuries," said Goffin, who was forced to retire through injury from the French Open and missed Wimbledon with an ankle injury.
"I cannot be happier today."
Victory helped Goffin strengthen his position in the ATP Race To London where he moves into 12th place, but with Stan Wawrinka (fifth) and Novak Djokovic (ninth) both out for the rest of the year due to injuries and Andy Murray also unlikely to take part, the Belgian is right in the mix.
He is now within five points of US Open finalist Kevin Anderson and 105 of American Sam Querrey.
At the Chengdu Open, Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin won his second ATP Tour title when Marcos Baghdatis was forced to retire through injury.
The Cypriot was trailing 3-2 when he collapsed to the court with a back spasm and was unable to continue.
Sky Sports Tennis will have all the action from the ATP China Open, Japan Open and Shanghai Masters before the action heads to Paris. The Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan and season-ending extravaganza World Tour Finals at London's O2 in November end another memorable year which will covered via our website www.skysports.com/tennis with live blogs and updates as the season reaches its climax.
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