World no. 6 outclasses Goffin, Thiem also advances to semis
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London, 16: Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov raced into the semifinals of the ATP Finals with a 6-0, 6-2 demolition of David Goffin on Wednesday.
Dimitrov has never quite lived up to his billing as the heir to Roger Federer’s throne, but the world number six’s eyecatching rout of Goffin was a reminder he is still young and gifted enough to finally make the breakthrough.
The 26-year-old unloaded 18 winners to dismiss the Belgian world number eight at London’s O2 Arena and seal his spot in the last four with one match to play.
In the day’s other Pete Sampras group match, Austrian fourth seed Dominic Thiem beat Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to remain in the hunt for a semifinal berth.
Dimitrov, who defeated Thiem in three sets in his group opener, has already made history as the first Bulgarian to qualify for the season-ending Tour finals.
And while Federer remains the title favourite following Rafael Nadal’s injury withdrawal, Dimitrov will fancy his chances of becoming the first debutant winner since Alex Corretja in 1998.
“You get a few days out of the year that whatever you touch turns to gold and that was the first set,” Dimitrov said.
“You work for those days, it’s nice when it comes in such an occasion. It’s a special win for me. My goal was to reach the weekend,” he added.
Goffin, another first time Tour Finals qualifier, had made a flying start with his dramatic threeset victory over Nadal on Monday. — AFP Nov.