Goffin, winner of Alcaraz in Miami: "The kind of evening where you savor every contested point"

© AFP

Adrien Guyot

le 22/03/2025 à 10h09

2 min to read

Alcaraz Goffin Miami

At 34 years old, David Goffin is still capable of delivering great performances. The Belgian, a former top 10 player, defeated Carlos Alcaraz (5-7, 6-4, 6-3) in the second round of the Miami Masters 1000, and now holds the advantage in their head-to-head encounters (2 wins to 1 for Goffin).

The former world No. 7, who will face Brandon Nakashima in the next round, was excellent in the last two sets to neutralize Alcaraz, who did not earn a single break point after winning the first set. The 2017 ATP Finals finalist spoke after his victory over the world No. 3.

"It's an extraordinary feeling. Sometimes, some matches are tough, and you have to hang in there, like in my first round (against Vukic). And then, you're happy to have a second round like this, on a big court.

That's why I keep playing tennis. I tried to enjoy this moment. I hoped to feel good, and that was the case physically. I was ready to fight, and I felt the ball well.

It's the kind of evening where you feel good and savor every contested point. The key was to be aggressive on the return, especially on his second serve. Sometimes, he hits the target on the first serve, and there's nothing you can do. But even if I missed, I couldn't be passive, otherwise he could rely on his forehand.

In fact, he can do everything, and if he had done what he wanted, I was dead. And it was the perfect ending, with that match point, where I returned well and unleashed my forehand afterward. It was great!" Goffin assured, according to comments collected by the Belgian media DH Les Sports.