Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Monday 20 noveMber 2017

Dimitrov wins ATP Finals,

Grand Slam his next target

By SAM JOHNSTON 6-3 in the final. 12th to snatch the set, de-
Associated Press “I felt I had a good men- spite Goffin hitting eight
LONDON (AP) — Grigor tal toughness throughout more winners.
Dimitrov’s talent took him the whole year,” Dimitrov Dimitrov’s confidence car-
to the brink of his biggest said. “So when my body’s ried into the second set,
career win — but he need- allowing me to do this kind where he brought up the
ed more than that to get of preparation, I feel I al- first break point in the sixth
over the line. ready have an advantage game, only for Goffin to
The sixth-seeded Bulgar- over any other player. And produce a stunning cross-
ian claimed the title at right now those are the mo- court backhand winner
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria lifts the trophy after beating David the season-ending ATP Fi- ments that I rise up to.” to save it. The momentum
Goffin of Belgium in their ATP World Tour Finals singles final tennis nals on Sunday, prevailing It wasn’t the Roger Feder- back with him, Goffin broke
match at the O2 Arena in London, Sunday Nov. 19, 2017. on his fifth match point to er-Rafael Nadal matchup the following game for a
Associated Press beat David Goffin 7-5, 4-6, many fans had hoped for, 4-3 lead and calmly closed
but they were left satisfied out the set.
as the two 26-year-olds Having become the sixth
delivered the longest final player to beat Nadal and
since the tournament re- Federer at the same tour-
turned to a three-set for- nament — the latter from a
mat in 2008. set down in the semifinals —
Dimitrov won in 2 hours, 30 Goffin had every reason to
minutes, 15 seconds, add- be confident after drawing
ing 11 minutes to the mark level. But he wasted four
set by Federer and Jo-Wil- break points in the opening
fried Tsonga in 2011. game and they would turn
That wasn’t the only record out to be his only chances
Dimitrov set. After winning in the decider.
all five of his matches at “I think after this week I’m
the O2 Arena, he became a better player mentally,”
the first player to win the said Goffin, who ends the
elite tournament on debut season at a career-high
since 1998, when Alex Cor- No. 7 ranking. “I proved to
retja of Spain triumphed in myself that I can do it.”
Hanover. Dimitrov was more clinical,
“I was a little bit tired,” said striking in the sixth game
Dimitrov, who beat Gof- to take control of the third
fin for the loss of just two set. However, the Bulgar-
games when they met on ian has had problems clos-
Wednesday. “I had to play ing matches out this sea-
a few matches obviously son — losing three times
back-to-back against solid after holding match points
opponents. I knew that Da- — and had cause for con-
vid is going to try something cern when Goffin saved his
new. He had to be aggres- first three to hold from 0-40
sive in order so he doesn’t down at 2-5.
let me play my game.” Dimitrov served his way
Goffin’s adjustments paid to 40-15 but saw another
off early as he broke Dimi- chance drift away, be-
trov’s first two service fore Goffin finally netted
games either side of los- a backhand volley to end
ing his own, before settling the match.
down to control the open- “I was a little bit tired in the
er. third,” Goffin said. “It’s the
However, Dimitrov fought only game maybe I didn’t
his way back. He leveled serve well. I didn’t put a lot
in the eighth game before of first serves in that game
breaking once more in the ... He was really solid.”q