Goffin emphasizes tactical key in his victory over Alcaraz

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Outside the top 50 –although it has been much worse– and at 34 years old –an age that means nothing nowadays– we saw David Goffin as a friendly opponent in this early stage of the Miami Open 2025. We don't know what Carlos Alcaraz thought when he saw the draw, but what is clear is that the Belgian still possesses that extraordinary level of tennis that once led him to be a runner-up in a Masters Cup. Whether or not you stayed up last night to watch the match, watch the highlights right now and you'll see Goffin unleashing his best game like in the old times. That level of aggressiveness was crucial to secure the victory, although in the post-match interview, we could learn about some more specific tactics that helped us understand this triumph over defeat. Of course, it also served as a reminder of the tremendous humility that the Belgian always exudes in his statements.

"I feel amazing right now. We know that we often have to face tough matches, where you have to fight hard, as happened to me in the first round against Vukic. Then you get a second round like this, in a stadium like this, so you just have to accept it and try to make your tennis adapt to the conditions and the intensity demanded by the occasion. Today, I had to bring out a high level of tennis, but I also tried to enjoy every moment, to feel good about myself first and foremost, which I believe I have been able to achieve. I felt very good on my feet, moving well on the court, and I was physically prepared to fight. I felt the ball very well in every exchange, and that somehow also helped me feel better and better on the court. I am happy to have competed in this way and savored every point; it was a perfect ending with a great match point, it was incredible," said the player from Rocourt.

Goffin is doing well to highlight his path to the third round of the Miami Open, stringing together two consecutive comebacks, possibly both unexpected. First against Aleksandar Vukic (2-6, 6-4, 6-2) and this time against Carlos Alcaraz (5-7, 6-4, 6-3), thus achieving his best tournament performance so far this season. After starting the year with five defeats in his first five tournaments, it was not until Acapulco –reaching the quarterfinals– that the situation began to improve. His stint at Indian Wells was brief, a win and a loss, but here in Miami, things seem to have aligned more in his favor. Now he will have to face a powerhouse like Brandon Nakashima, who is also on a roll, but there will be time to think about that matchup later.

THE KEY TO OVERCOMING CARLOS

Before clashing with Nakashima, it was essential to listen a bit more to Goffin, a player not blessed with great natural weapons but who has long found a way to enhance his skills and trouble half the circuit. We're talking about a player who has been able to defeat the best, including a Carlos Alcaraz who was already surprised by the Belgian in the Astana 2022 tournament. Here in Miami, he had to work a bit harder to clinch the victory, so it was necessary to discuss the tactical aspect, specifically, which was the most vital shot on which Goffin built his win over the current World No. 3.

"One of the keys was being very aggressive on the return, especially on his second serve. There are times when you can't do much with his first serve, so I had to emphasize the second serve. Even if I ended up making an error, I knew I couldn't stop being aggressive on the return. Against Carlos, you can't be passive at any moment or play towards his forehand, so I had to be very active from the start, from the first ball, trying to dictate the points. I think this was evident in many moments of the match, like in the final match point, where I went for it once again," David specified.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Goffin subraya la clave táctica en su victoria ante Alcaraz