David Goffin has achieved what only one other tennis player has managed in the past six months – a victory over Rafael Nadal.
The fleet-footed Goffin scored the biggest upset of the ATP Cup with his 6-4 7-6 (7-3) win over the world No.1 on Friday night as Belgium levelled the quarter-final tie with Spain at 1-1.
Nadal had enjoyed an incredible run after Wimbledon last year, going 26-1 in matches with one walkover through injury.
That golden period included a US Open win, Davis Cup title and Masters Series Trophy in Montreal.
But the form book went out the arena in Sydney as the world No.11 dragged his team back into the contest with the win.
The pair traded breaks in the first set before Goffin stole the advantage in the ninth game, ripping a backhand winner down the line and forcing Nadal into error off his forehand for a 5-4 lead.
He then served out the set.
Things started no better in the second for Nadal, who hadn’t lost a set in his first three matches of the ATP Cup.
Goffin broke in the opening game and looked set to close out the match when 4-2 and threatening on Nadal’s serve.
The 19-time grand slam champion held his nerve, however, broke back and forced a tiebreak only for Goffin to dominate it 7-3.
Familiarity with the Ken Rosewall Arena and its newly minted roof might have been a factor for Goffin, who played in Sydney all week while Nadal was based in Perth.
Several players including Russia’s Daniil Medvedev have mentioned how differently the arena has played compared to Perth, while Australian Alex de Minaur, who’d been in Brisbane, clean missed a regulation smash during his singles quarter-final.
But, with Nadal slated to team up with world No.27 singles player Pablo Carreno Busta, a three-time winner in doubles on the tour, the Spaniards will still be strongly favoured to take the tie against the unheralded pairing of Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen.
Earlier, Roberto Bautista Agut put Spain on the board with a straight-sets win over Kimmer Coppejans.
The Belgians sprang a surprise by pitching the No.158 into the match against the world No.10, opting to rest Steve Darcis who’d won two of his three singles matches.
After struggling early, Coppejans enjoyed a break advantage for much of the second set, but Bautista Agut came home strongly to take the match 6-1 6-4.
The winners will play Australia on Saturday night.