Goffin upsets Zverev in Halle

Quarter final day in Halle

Noventi Open - an ATP 500 category tournament, on Grass, in Halle, Germany, 17-23 June 2019.

Defending champion:

Borna Coric who defeated Roger Federer (1) 7-6(6) 3-6 6-2

Quarter final results 

- David Goffin v Alexander Zverev (2)

Zverev won the previous two contests between the pair, most recently in Rome last year. Both victories were in three sets, and each was on clay.

Goffin served first, and for four games, neither player was taken to deuce when at the line. The fifth game saw Zverev delight his German crowd when he converted the third of three break opportunities to lead 3-2.

The second seed had three more chances in Goffin’s next service game to claim a double break, but the Belgian stood firm.

After posting a love game to lead 5-3, Zverev set about again cracking the Goffin serve and taking the opening set.  Another love game was what the doctor ordered, and with that the set was over 6-3.

Goffin replied in the manner expected of a former top ten player, winning three of the first four games of set two.

Then the marathon fifth game - it lasted 24 points and deuce was visited nine times. Zverev saved six break points before having two game points of his own. Both were dashed, and then a seventh break point saved. Finally Goffin cashed in on the eighth break point of the game to lead 4-1.

Saving two break points - the first time his serve had been threatened this set - Goffin made it 5-1, and he squared the match with the second of two set points in the following Zverev service game. 

A level of sanity returned to the contest in the deciding third set, with deuce being attained just twice. Interestingly, on each occasion, serve was dropped to love, and games were 4–4.

When serving at 4-5, Zverev saved two match points, and eventually a tie break was required.

From 3–3, Goffin took complete control, winning the remaining four points, the set and the match 3-6 6-1 7-6(3).

- Roger Federer (1) defeated Roberto Bautista Agut (7) 6-3 4-6 6-4

- Pierre-Hugues Herbert defeated defending champion Borna Coric (4) 7-5 (retired)

- Matteo Berrettini defeated Karen Khachanov (3) 6-2 7-6(4)

Semi final match ups 

Roger Federer (1) v Pierre-Hugues Herbert

Matteo Berrettini v David Goffin