Belgium’s David Goffin exited the Paris Masters on Tuesday with mixed emotions.
The eighth seed crashed out of the first round in straight sets to Slovakia’s Norbert Gombos in what was the fourth consecutive tournament where he has lost his opening match. Goffin last won on the Tour back in August at the US Open where he reached the fourth round. Since then, it has been a struggle both mentally and physically for him.
“I just wanted to see where I am in this tournament but now I’m very happy that the season is over because now I can try to look more in the future,” Goffin said following his latest loss.
It was around the time of the French Open where the problems started to mount for Goffin. Shortly after his loss to Jannik Sinner he told reporters that he was struggling for motivation on the Tour. Something he attributed to the uncertainty that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which brought men’s tennis to a standstill for five months earlier this year. At the time he was unsure as to when he would be able to get the fire back in his game.
Fortunately for the former world No.7 his desire is back despite the lack of success in recent weeks.
“I’m feeling better because I wanted to play and I was happy to be on the court,” Goffin explained.
“It was not my best (performance) but I had some good moments in the two matches I played in Antwerp and here (Paris).’
“At the French Open it was just a very bad match. I wanted to come back for the end of the year.”
The mental struggles were not the only problem the 29-year-old have had to deal with. Last month he tested positive for COVID-19 and subsequently had to pull out of the European Open in his home city. He has now tested negative for the virus but is still experiencing some effects caused by having it.
“I didn’t expect anything when I came here (to Paris). It wasn’t good in Antwerp. I was still breathing heavily there. Here I just wanted to see where my level is at,” he concluded.
Goffin ends 2020 with a win-loss record of 12-11 with his best run being to the semi-finals of the Open Sud de France in February. Despite the roller-coaster results, he has still managed to earn more than $1 million in prize money this year.
