Montpellier (AFP)
Belgian David Goffin, 15th in the world, qualified for the final of the ATP tournament in Montpellier thanks to his victory against Belarusian Egor Gerasimov (83rd), in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-4) on Saturday in the semi-final.
After winning the first set (6-4) by making the break from the start, Goffin conceded the second set to his opponent.
Led 3 games to 0, the Belgian failed to come back and lost three of his four services.
The two fought hard in a very tight start to the third set.
Belarussian's lost serve in the seventh game lost it to Goffin to regain the upper hand and lead for the first time since the end of the first set.
"In the third (set), I said to myself: + now I'm in the semi-final, the third set I just have to fight and use my serve and I'll end up having an opportunity +. J 'I had one. I managed to break him at 3 (games) everywhere and in the end I really focused on my serve and I reach the final for the first time here "in Montpellier, explained the player on BeIn Sport at the end of the meeting.
Thanks to his victory over Gerasimov, the No. 2 seed of the Open Sud de France, 30, qualifies for his first final of the season.
He had not reached such a stage in the ATP circuit since the Cincinnatti Masters 1000 in 2019.
In the previous round, David Goffin beat Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) on Thursday, securing his ticket to the semi-final.
He will face the winner of the other semi-final of the day on Sunday, between the Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut, seeded No. 1 in the tournament and No. 13 in the world, and the German Peter Gojowczyk.
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