Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov won the most important tournament of his career by beating Belgian David Goffin 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 this Sunday and crowned Nitto ATP Finals champion for the first time at London’s O2.
Dimitrov, third in the world, won in two hours and 30 minutes, the third longest game of the tournament, to win the fourth title this season (Brisbane, Sofia and the Masters 1,000 in Cincinnati).
The Bulgarian, the first of this nationality to win the teachers’ meeting, thus became the first rookie to win the Masters in the year of his debut, after the Spanish Alex Corretja in the edition held in Hannover (Germany) in 1998, when he defeated the also Spanish Carlos Moyá.
The German Boris Becker, champion of the Masters three times (1988, 1992 and 1995) presented the trophy, and in the delivery Goffin had words that honor him. “You have worked very hard and you deserved it,” he said, referring to his rival.
“It has been a very special week for me, full of emotion, incredible, but it has been very hard,” added the Belgian, who will play the Davis Cup final against France in Lille next week.
“It has been a tremendous week, very lucky David in the Davis Cup”, Dimitrov replied, “thanks to my girlfriend Nicole (Scherzinger) who has been here all the time. Now a little rest on a beach, it seems like a good idea, “added the champion.
By going undefeated throughout the tournament, winning all three of their group stage matches, the semi-final, and the final. Dimitrov will receive a check for $ 2,549,000 and 1,500 points, to end the season after Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerland, in the best position of their careers, 4,455 points behind the Basel player.
This season will be reflected in the memory of the Haskovo player, who has always been said to be the heir to Federer’s technique.
Not only for finishing among the three best in the world, but because he has been able to win his first title of a 1,000 Masters in Cincinnati, defeating Australian Nick Kyrgios in the final, and for taking the Masters, where he has shone with his own light .
Former English soccer captain David Beckhan, and his son Cruz, actors Patrick Stewart and Rami Malek, among other celebrities, attended the final of the tournament that traditionally closes the season on the ATP circuit.
The names of two Spaniards, David Ferrer and Alex Corretja, resounded before the final. The one from Javea, because he was the first to reach the final of a Masters as a rookie in 2007, and the one from Barcelona because he was the first to win it, as a rookie in 1998.
Goffin, able to beat world number one, Nadal, and two, Federer in the same week, tried his best to beat third in the world, something that only three players had achieved in history.
The German Boris Becker was the first, in Stockholm in 1994 (Pete Sampras, Goran Ivanisevic and Michael Stich); and then the Serbian Novak Djokovic, in the 2007 Montreal Masters (Federer, Nadal and Andy Roddick), and the last, the Argentine David Nalbandian in the 2007 Madrid Masters 1,000 (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic).
The Belgian was expecting a different match than on Wednesday in the group stage, when Dimitrov thrashed him 6-0, 6-2 and responded with all his weapons. He was able to overcome the loss of the first set where he had a 2-1 lead, and that gave up at the Bulgarian’s fourth chance, to later win the second set with a break in the seventh game.
In the final, both players showed their best tennis. Sober behind Goffin, and more spectacular and virtuous Dimitrov.
Venezuelan disciple Daniel Vallverdu was about to lose his serve in the first game when he had to lift four break points, and once saved he stole the Belgian’s serve in the sixth (4-2).
The end was of a great tennis, with Goffin defending himself with all his weapons, and Dimitrov attacking. The Bulgarian needed five match points to clinch the title, and the duel ended with the most unexpected, an easy backhand volley missed by Rocourt’s at the net. EFE.