Belgium’s David Goffin has rediscovered his form in Marrakech at the ‘Grand Prix Hassan II’ 250 tournament where he has made the final of an event for the first time this season and his first since February 2021.
He's lefty so he's using his lefty game really well on clay, especially two days ago against Felix, he played well. So it's a tough opponent. David Goffin
A former world No.7 was happy with his performances during the week but admitted that his victories had been draining so he was pleased at getting through his semi-final against Federico Coria of Argentina, 6-3 6-3, having been tested in two lengthy three-setters in his previous two matches, recovering from a set down to defeat Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena in the quarter finals 6-7(6) 6-4 6-0.
“It was a short match, so it’s good because the last two matches were more than two hours and 30 minutes,” Goffin commented on the ATP website.
“It was not easy. At the beginning I was a little bit nervous. The energy was a little bit down, so I had to push myself to play better, to come back, to break back.
“After that, I started to feel more relaxed and my quality of ball was better, and then I started to play really well at the end of the first set.”
Coria took an early 2-0 lead but Goffin recovered claiming breaks in the third, seventh and ninth games and win the first set. Goffin then claimed a single break in the eighth game which was sufficient for him to go on to claim the second set and match.
“I managed to deal with my emotions at the end to finish the match so I’m happy to play another final, especially here, the first tournament on clay,” Goffin added. “I will give everything tomorrow.”
Goffin plays Slovak Alex Molcan in the final. “He’s a great fighter, he’s moving so well,” Goffin said of his final opponent. “He’s lefty so he’s using his lefty game really well on clay, especially two days ago against Felix, he played well. So it’s a tough opponent.”
Molcan defeated Laslo Djere of Serbia in the semis 6-1 7-5 and earlier in the week, had taken out the top seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime in round two and the sixth seeded Dutchman, Botic Van de Zandschulp in the quarters.
The only Brit in action on the tour this week, Dan Evans, seeded 2, suffered an early loss going out to Spain’s Pablo Andujar 6-4 6-2 in the opening round.
Alex Molcan toppled two seeds in his run to the finl
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