Belgium's David Goffin has ousted fifth-seeded Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the ASB Tennis Classic in a match, which produced an engrossing clash of styles. (More Tennis News)
⭕Goffin, a baseliner who won his seventh ATP singles title last year on clay in Marrakech, used touch and placement to move his bigger opponent around the court.
💙Bublik, ranked 38, 17 places ahead of Goffin, deployed a powerful serve, which often clocked in around 220km (136mph). But Goffin broke him four times, including at match point in the 10th game of the second set.
🦂His groundstrokes were crisp and he often worked Bublik wide out on the backhand side to open the court before hitting a winner down the line.
🧔“His service pressure is just amazing, like 220 (kmh) all the time, close to the line,” Goffin said. “So I'm very pleased with the way I returned.
♕“I broke him three or four times. It was not easy, especially in the second when he started to hit the ball and be more aggressive to be a break down. To finish with a break at 6-4, I'm very happy.”
💞Goffin first broke Bublik for 4-3 in the first set, finishing the game with a neatly-placed inside-out forehand into an open court.
𒐪Bublik then broke Goffin in the third game of the second set, but Goffin broke back to level the set at 3-3. Goffin went up 5-3 with another break and served for the set, but Bublik gave himself two break points and converted the second.
♏Bublik was 30-0 up at the start of the 10th game, but Goffin fought back to break again and take the match in 1 hour, 13 seconds.
ღ“He started to hit the ball really well and he's very dangerous when he's relaxed and 3-1 up,” Goffin said.
𝄹“That was a crucial game (at 3-3) to win the match.”
♒Goffin believes he took some momentum out of the recent United Cup in Australia, though Belgium didn't fare well at the tournament.
💙“I had two very tough matches playing for my country,” he said.
🐓“It was not easy. I played some good matches there and I think I'm ready for this tournament. It's a good start with a first win here and I'm happy, so let's keep it rolling.”
⛦Earlier, Constant Lestienne of France beat Pedro Cachin of Argentina 6-1, 6-3.
﷽Richard Gasquet beat New Zealand wild card Kiranpal Pannu 6-3, 6-1 and American Jensen Brooksby beat Fabio Fognini 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-3.
