Goffin shocks Federer, faces Dimitrov in ATP Finals decider

LONDON—David Goffin shocked overwhelming favorite Roger Federer on Saturday in the last four of the ATP Finals and will face Grigor Dimitrov for the title in the season finale.

Belgium's Goffin had never previously beaten the Swiss 19-time Grand Slam champion in six attempts and was in deep trouble after losing the first set but he stormed back to win 2-6, 63, 6-4.

In the later semifinal, Bulgarian sixth seed Dimitrov ended Jack Sock's fairytale late-season run 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 in a battle pitting the American's big forehand against Dimitrov's rapier-like backhand.

Goffin will be hoping for a different outcome from the round-robin meeting earlier in the week, which Dimitrov won 6-0, 6-2.

The Belgian had his work cut out against a proFederer crowd at London's O2 Arena as the Swiss was quickly into his stride, picking up volleys off his shoestrings and lacing backhands down the line.

World number two Federer, 36, won his ninth consecutive set against his 26-year-old opponent in just 33 minutes.

But the seventh seed, who 24 hours earlier admitted he did not have a clue how to beat Federer, hit back early in the second set to break and, rejuvenated, knocked his illustrious opponent out of his rhythm.

Federer, suddenly looking vulnerable and unable to dominate, was powerless to stem the tide as Goffin went on to level the match before breaking again early in the decider.

"I started to feel the ball better at the end of the first set, so I wanted to be more aggressive," said Goffin.

"As soon as I had the chance to go for the shot from the return and from the serve, (that) was the key, to go for the shot."

Goffin is only the sixth player ever to beat Rafael Nadal and Federer in the same tournament and the first since Novak Djokovic at the 2015 ATP Finals.

The Belgian, who beat Nadal in his round-robin opener, described his victory against six-time champion Federer as the best of his career.