METZ, France (AP) — Eighth-seeded David Goffin of Belgium served 10 aces and saved all four break points he faced to claim his second career title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Joao Sousa of Portugal in the Moselle Open final on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Goffin is enjoying a strong finish to his season and has now won 34 of his past 36 matches at all levels. After winning his maiden title on clay in Kitzbuehel, Austria, in August, Goffin has showed his versatility on the indoor hard court of Metz, where he upset top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals.
“This is very special because my family was here today. That’s the advantage of playing close to home,” Goffin said. “Winning my second title feels just as good as the first one.”
Goffin is now 2-0 against the sixth-seeded Sousa after the Belgian lost only six games when they met in the second round of the U.S. Open.
Having started the year outside the top 100, the 45th-ranked Goffin is set to reach a new career high of 35 when the new rankings are published Monday. He ended last year down in 113th.
Serving strong and varying his double-handed backhand well, Goffin was in control from the start. He won 81 percent of points behind his first serve and also put Sousa on the back foot with excellent returns that earned him nine break points.
“I had to play aggressively today, dictate the game,” Goffin said. “The tactics worked out well and I served well. I was able to focus until the end.”
Goffin set up three match points with a cross-court backhand passing shot and converted the second, falling on his back in celebration after Sousa sent a forehand into the net.
The sixth-seeded Sousa had advanced to the final after saving four match points against Paul-Henri Mathieu in the quarterfinals and rallying past second-seeded Gael Monfils in the semis.
“Today I’m not happy but it has been a beautiful week,” said Sousa, who was also looking for his second title after making his breakthrough in Kuala Lumpur last year.
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