In a thrilling match at the Miami Masters, David Goffin, the seasoned Belgian tennis player, ousted the former champion Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked as the world’s third-best player. In a contest that spanned two hours and 17 minutes, Goffin demonstrated his superior skill and strategy to secure his place in the third round of the prestigious tournament.
Goffin, 34, wrested victory from the jaws of defeat, bouncing back after a hard-fought opening set loss to the Spanish prodigy. Showcasing his resilience, the Belgian delivered three decisive breaks in the subsequent two sets, making it his second consecutive triumph over Alcaraz. This victory adds another feather in Goffin’s cap, marking his eighth career win over a top-3 player.
Alcaraz, the four-time Major winner, tasted disappointment on American soil as he failed to replicate his past glories. After losing the Indian Wells championship to Jack Draper, the young Spaniard find himself exiting the Miami tournament considerably earlier than expected. His focus will now shift to preparing for the upcoming clay season back in his home country.
Goffin’s win was no easy feat. He sealed the deal by scoring a mere three points more than Alcaraz in a neck-and-neck contest. Demonstrating superior control over his first serve, Goffin overcame the 2022 champion in the game’s critical junctures. The Belgian successfully defended three out of five break points and executed four breaks to claim the match.
The match statistics reveal a fascinating story. Goffin managed to control his strokes effectively, ending the game with 23 winners and 25 unforced errors. Alcaraz, on the other hand, was more aggressive but fell short due to a 36-43 ratio, with his erratic forehand costing him dearly.
While Goffin served fewer winners than Alcaraz, he compensated by outperforming his rival at the baseline and the net. Alcaraz initially held the upper hand in the shortest and most advanced rallies, but Goffin’s strategy paid off in the mid-range exchanges, giving him the edge.
The turning point of the game came in the fourth game of the opening set. Despite facing two break points, Goffin held his ground, maintaining a positive momentum. Alcaraz’s double fault in the seventh game allowed Goffin to break and take a 4-3 lead. However, the Spaniard managed to equalize the score at 4-4, capitalizing on Goffin’s error.
Alcaraz continued his aggressive play and managed to secure the first set 7-5, making use of Goffin’s off-target backhand. However, the Belgian was far from out. Goffin kept his cool in the second set, particularly in the ninth game, where he landed a volley winner to take a 5-4 lead. Serving for the set in the tenth game, Goffin secured the set 6-4, pushing the match into the deciding set.
Goffin started the final set on a high note, capitalizing on Alcaraz’s errors to secure an early break. Despite facing a time violation ahead of the third game, Alcaraz managed to deny a break point to stay in the game. Goffin’s consistent service game gave him a 5-3 lead. The Belgian then seized the opportunity in the ninth game, converting the second match point with a tactical attack and forced error, thereby securing a memorable victory against the 2nd seed.
