Tennis

Taylor Fritz, the American tennis sensation, is poised to face David Goffin in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash at the Shanghai Masters. Fritz, who recently reached the US Open final, is eager to add another Masters 1000 title to his resume and gain momentum heading into the ATP Finals.Goffin, on the other hand, has enjoyed a resurgence in Shanghai, winning four matches, including impressive victories over Lorenzo Musetti and Alexander Zverev. However, experts believe that Fritz holds a significant advantage in this matchup.Fritz has been in dominant form, showcasing his prowess in a recent 6-1, 6-2 victory over Holger Rune. His serve has been impeccable, with a hold percentage of 88.3% this season. The fast court conditions in Shanghai further enhance his serving abilities, making it difficult for Goffin to break through.Goffin, despite his recent success, has a lower serve hold percentage of 72.4%. This could provide Fritz with ample opportunities to break serve. Additionally, Fritz's physical advantage, having spent less time on court than Goffin, gives him an edge in endurance.From the baseline, Fritz's exceptional backhand matches Goffin's strength in that area. Fritz's length and defensive skills also pose a challenge for Goffin, who may struggle to hit clean winners against Fritz's consistent defense.Experts predict an Under 22.5 Games outcome, with Fritz likely to win in straight sets. While Goffin may put up a fight in one set, Fritz's overall dominance is expected to prevail.

David Goffin's resurgence at the Rolex Shanghai Masters is not just a testament to his enduring talent but also a reflection of his newfound motivation: his newborn daughter, Emma. The 33-year-old Belgian, who has battled injuries in recent years, has rediscovered his form in Shanghai, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in three years.Goffin's journey to the last eight has been marked by resilience and determination. After entering the tournament ranked 66th, he has overcome a set deficit in each of his three matches, including a stunning victory over world No. 2 Alexander Zverev.The Belgian's triumph over Zverev was particularly emotional. After clinching the match, Goffin sent a heartfelt message to his daughter, signing the camera with the letter 'E' inside a heart. "I wanted to show my daughter that I can be a good tennis player," he said. "I will try to find a few more years just to show her that I can still play tennis."Goffin's resurgence is a testament to his unwavering belief in his abilities. Despite falling outside the world's Top 100 in 2023, he never doubted his potential. "I was not thinking retiring," he said. "I put a lot of hard work in the last few months. The tennis came back."The Belgian's success in Shanghai is a reminder that age is just a number. With his daughter as his inspiration, Goffin is determined to prove that he can still compete with the best in the world. He will face another Top 10 opponent, Taylor Fritz, in the quarterfinals, but Goffin is confident in his abilities."I built the confidence from the beginning of the tournament," he said. "I just came on the court and just tried to play my best tennis. It worked."Goffin's journey in Shanghai is a story of resilience, determination, and the power of family. With his daughter watching from afar, he is determined to continue his resurgence and prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour.

David Goffin's Grand Slam struggles continued at Wimbledon, where he suffered a stunning five-set defeat to Tomas Machac after squandering a 5-0 lead in the deciding set.The 33-year-old Belgian, a former world No. 7, had endured a disappointing year at the majors, losing in the first round of the Australian Open and facing hostile crowds at Roland Garros.At Wimbledon, Goffin's hopes of a deep run were dashed in dramatic fashion. Leading Machac 6-3, 4-2 when play was suspended due to rain, he appeared to be in control. However, the Czech qualifier rallied back to win the second set and eventually take the match in a thrilling fifth-set tiebreaker.Goffin's collapse was particularly shocking given his previous success on grass. He reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2019 and 2022, and Machac had never won a main-draw match at the All England Club before.The Belgian's inability to close out the match has raised questions about his mental fortitude. Some have compared his collapse to Rory McIlroy's failure to hold his lead at the US Open, while others have drawn parallels to the Florida Panthers' dramatic loss in the Stanley Cup final.However, Goffin's defeat may also be a reminder of the unpredictable nature of tennis, especially at the Grand Slams. Even the most experienced players can succumb to nerves and pressure, and large leads can evaporate in an instant.

Richard Gasquet, the 38-year-old French tennis veteran, is making a nostalgic return to Wimbledon qualifying 20 years after his debut in 2004. Gasquet, a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist and former world No. 7, defeated Olivier Crawford in his first qualifying match since the 2004 US Open.Gasquet's victory marks his quest for an 18th Grand Slam main draw appearance. He fired 14 aces and saved three set points in the second-set tiebreaker to advance after one hour and 43 minutes. Gasquet will face Alexis Galarneau of Canada in the next round.Other veterans seeking to relive their Wimbledon glory include David Goffin, a twice quarterfinalist, who cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Marc Polmans. Goffin recently won the Ilkley Challenger crown, a performance that would have traditionally earned him a wild card into the main draw.The top four men's seeds also progressed safely. Top seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard defeated Ugo Blanchet, 6-2, 7-5, while second seed Hugo Gaston beat Shintaro Mochizuki, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Third seed Zizou Bergs dismissed Omar Jasika, 6-2, 7-5, and fourth seed James Duckworth rallied past Benjamin Hassan, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-4.Gasquet's return to Wimbledon qualifying is a testament to his enduring passion for the sport. Despite his age, he remains a formidable opponent with a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the game. The upcoming matches will be a true test of his resilience and determination as he aims to secure a place in the main draw and relive the magic of Wimbledon past.

French Open 2023: Preview and Predictions for Zverev, Goffin, Musetti, Monfils, Azarenka, and SabalenkaThe French Open 2023 is underway, and some intriguing matchups are set to take place in the second round. Here's a preview and predictions for four highly anticipated matches:Alexander Zverev vs. David GoffinZverev and Goffin have a history of close encounters, with Zverev holding a narrow 3-2 head-to-head advantage. Their most recent meeting, on clay in Rome last year, went to a third-set tiebreaker.Goffin, now ranked 115th, has shown signs of his old form in his five-set first-round win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. However, Zverev, fresh off his historic victory over Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, is likely to be too strong for the Belgian.Lorenzo Musetti vs. Gael MonfilsMusetti and Monfils are both known for their flashy and entertaining style of play. Musetti, ranked 30th, has a single-handed backhand, while Monfils, ranked 37th, is renowned for his acrobatic shots.Their only previous meeting, on indoor hard courts in Vienna in 2021, went to Monfils in two close sets. However, Musetti has shown impressive form on clay this season, and his youth and energy could give him an edge over the veteran Monfils.Victoria Azarenka vs. Mirra AndreevaAzarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, faces a rising star in 17-year-old Andreeva. Despite the age difference, both players have similar playing styles, favoring their two-handed backhands and playing a balanced game.Azarenka's experience and ability to handle pressure should give her the advantage in this matchup. However, Andreeva's youth and fearless attitude could make this a competitive contest.Aryna Sabalenka vs. Moyuka UchijimaSabalenka, the No. 2 seed, is a heavy favorite against Uchijima, who is ranked 83rd. However, Uchijima has won 19 straight matches at the ITF level and in Roland Garros qualifying.Sabalenka's power and consistency should be too much for Uchijima, but the Japanese player could provide a surprise if she can maintain her high level of play.

Andy Murray, a former world No. 1, made a strong start at the BNP Paribas Open, defeating David Goffin in straight sets to set up a second-round clash with Andrey Rublev. Murray, who has hinted at retiring in 2024, showed glimpses of his former brilliance in the 6-3, 6-2 victory.Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has battled back from a hip resurfacing to become a Top 50 fixture. However, he has endured a difficult stretch since last fall, losing nine of 10 matches. Despite the setbacks, Murray remains determined to finish his career on a high note.Goffin, a former world No. 7, has also struggled in recent years. Since falling out of the Top 100 last spring, he has played a mix of ATP Challengers and tour-level qualifiers. Murray boasts a 7-0 head-to-head record against Goffin, including a victory in 2022 when Goffin retired after the first set.In the opening set, Murray played a clean game, striking eight winners to just five unforced errors. Goffin, on the other hand, was more erratic, hitting more winners but also twice as many errors. A big serve gave Murray the first set.Murray continued his momentum in the second set, breaking Goffin's serve to start. He then held his serve comfortably and broke Goffin again to take a 4-2 lead. Murray blasted a backhand into the open court to earn an insurance break and served for the match. He earned three match points and sealed the victory with an ace.Murray's next opponent, Rublev, will be playing his first match since being defaulted from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for verbally berating a lines judge. Rublev, a 10-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, was fined $36,400 but retained his ranking points after appealing the decision.Murray and Rublev are deadlocked at 1-1 in their head-to-head, but Murray's lone win over the young Russian came in 2017. Rublev got the better of Murray indoors in Rotterdam in 2021.