“I was ready for the fight” – David Goffin reacts to Rafael Nadal ATP Cup defeat

Belgium’s David Goffin recorded only his second ever win against Rafael Nadal in a 6-4 7-6 straight sets victory at Ken Rosewall Arena.

Nadal was expected to ease past Goffin in Sydney and take Spain into the semi-finals of the ATP cup.

However, Goffin was just too strong on the day, taking the first set comfortably and with a break up in the second set before Nadal staged a comeback.

The tiebreak saw Nadal serve an uncharacteristic fourth double fault, allowing the Belgian to seal the victory with an ace.

“I felt my tennis the other match against Grigor [Dimitrov], the confidence came back and I was ready for the fight tonight,” he told reporters.

“From the first point until the end it was not easy because I was up a set and a break.

“To hold my nerves until the end was not easy but I played a very good tiebreak.

“Some tough games at the end of the second [set] to hold my serve but at the end, I’m so happy for Belgium to have a decisive doubles.

“I knew Rafa had to take the ball a little bit early, to take some more risks because I was in the court trying to dictate all the time and he had to find a solution.

“He finds a solution most of the time so I had to stick to my line and continue to move forward and that’s what I did.

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