David Goffin is looking forward to leading Belgium in Davis Cup final against France
"It was a special week for me, with a lot of emotions, a lot of fatigue of course. Now I'm feeling tired, but I'll be ready for the final"
Monday 20 November 2017 19:40, UK
Belgium's David Goffin believes his exceptional run at the ATP Finals has strengthened his resolve for the Davis Cup final at the weekend.
After his three-set defeat by Grigor Dimitrov in Sunday's final of the prestigious season-ending tournament, Goffin had no time for regrets as is looking forward to the decider in the men's global team championship against France in Lille.
The hosts are favourites, but Goffin will be aiming to recharge the batteries following his heroics at the O2 Arena, and will be the form player at the three-day final, which begins on Friday.
After his run in London, Goffin, 26, has been transformed into a harder, better performer by the exertions, during which he became only the sixth man to beat Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the same event.
"It was a special week for me, with a lot of emotions, a lot of fatigue of course. Now I'm feeling tired, but I'll be ready for the final," said Goffin, who moved up to a career-high seventh in the world rankings on Monday.
"It's such an honour to represent my country. To be another time in the final of the Davis Cup is really something special. I will try to give my best, as I did this week."
He believes he has moved on since performing admirably when an Andy Murray-inspired Britain won the Cup in 2015, the second time the Belgians had lost a final.
The way I managed the pressure will help me to also manage the pressure there (in Lille) but it will be something different. It will be against the stadium.
"I think after this week I'm a better player mentally but also physically," said Goffin, who eventually went down to Bulgarian Dimitrov following a draining two-and-a-half hour duel.
"The way I managed the pressure will help me to also manage the pressure there (in Lille) but it will be something different. It will be against the stadium.
"The fatigue doesn't mean anything. I just have to go for every match, every moment of the court, enjoy that moment."
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Lucas Pouille lead the French team along with Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, while Goffin's team-mates include Steve Darcis, Ruben Bemelmans and Arthur De Greef.
The season-ending extravaganza ATP Finals at London's O2 ends another memorable year which we have covered on www.skysports.com/tennis with live blogs, reports and expert analysis. See you in 2018 when we return for the Australian Open.
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