British player Toby Samuel has ended David Goffin’s journey in Paris.
Goffin, the former world number seven, was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 3-6 by the world number 159 in the second round of Roland Garros qualifying.
Goffin is set to retire from his playing career at the end of this year, and has consequently now contested his last match on the Parisian red clay.
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During his post-match speech, Goffin thanked the French Open crowd and expressed his delight at being welcomed ‘like a prince’ throughout his time in Paris.
David Goffin’s heartfelt goodbye to Roland Garros
“It’s pure joy, nothing but emotion, with some magnificent moments,” Goffin told the crowd in Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
“Amazing matches, beautiful courts, superb atmospheres.
“I’ve always been welcomed here like one of yours, like a champion. Like a prince, thank you very much.
“It’s always been a special tournament for me, obviously. As I said, I kind of started playing my first matches and playing some of my best matches here on court Suzanne Lenglen.
“16 years ago and there you go. Fourteen Roland Garros later, I find myself back on the same court.
“I gave everything, everything two days ago.
“Gave it everything out there. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough this time, but it was still pure joy to play on this court.
David Goffin’s best performances at every Grand Slam event
- Australian Open: Quarter-finals in 2017 [lost to Grigor Dimitrov]
- French Open: Quarter-finals in 2016 [lost to Dominic Thiem]
- Wimbledon: Quarter-finals in 2019 and 2022 [lost to Novak Djokovic and Cameron Norrie]
- US Open: Fourth round in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
“Thank you very much.”
Goffin can hold his head high after performing admirably throughout his final campaign in Paris.
The Belgian, an ATP Finals finalist and a winner of six ATP Tour titles, defeated Taiwan’s Tseng Chun-hsin 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of Roland Garros qualifying.
However, he came unstuck against Toby Samuel, winning only 36 per cent of his second serve points on his way to defeat.
Goffin will now turn his attention towards the grass-court season, during which he will seek to make one final appearance at Wimbledon before retiring.
David Goffin’s French Open debut
In 2012, David Goffin made his Roland Garros debut.
The Belgian defeated Radek Stepanek, Arnaud Clément and Lukasz Kubot to reach the fourth round in Paris.
There, he was defeated by 2009 champion Roger Federer, 7-5, 5-7, 2-6, 4-6.
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Four years later, Goffin achieved his best result at the event.
Goffin beat Grégoire Barrère, Carlos Berlocq, Nicolas Almagro and Ernests Gulbis to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time in his career.
In the last eight, Goffin was defeated by 13th seed Dominic Thiem, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 1-6.
Novak Djokovic won the title, defeating Andy Murray in the final.
