"Wanted to show my daughter I can be a good player" - Alexander Zverev-conqueror David Goffin honors newborn daughter with Shanghai Masters 4R win
David Goffin pulled off an upset at the 2024 Shanghai Masters as he beat second-seeded Alexander Zverev in the fourth round. The Belgian veteran was over the moon and dedicated the victory to his newborn daughter, Emma.
Goffin faced Zverev on Wednesday, October 9, and rediscovered his vintage form to stun the German in straight sets (6-4, 7-5). In a close contest that saw both players hit 30 winners each and commit nearly identical unforced errors (16 for Goffin and 14 for Zverev), the Belgian emerged victorious with crucial breaks at key junctures.
David Goffin created 11 breakpoint opportunities on his German rival's serve and converted four of them en route to a 6-4, 7-5 win. The result was huge considering the injury troubles and the dip in form Goffin has endured over the last three years.
Once ranked as high as World No. 7, Goffin was elated after notching arguably his biggest win in two years and dedicated it to his newborn daughter, Emma. Goffin and his wife Stephanie Tuccitto welcomed Emma on September 17.
After the match, Goffin took part in the customary signing of the camera and drew a heart with the letter "E" on it. The 33-year-old said he wanted to show his daughter that his father could still play tennis at the highest level and hoped she would soon come to watch him play.
"I wanted to show my daughter that I can be a good tennis player, so I will try to find a few more years just to show her that I can still play tennis. That’s the case for the moment. Even if she doesn’t realize yet, hopefully she will come and watch a little bit," David Goffin said (via ATPTour.com).
David Goffin reaches first Masters 1000 QF since 2021 after beating Alexander Zverev
David Goffin is into the last eight of the 2024 Shanghai Masters. This is his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal since the 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters. The World No. 66 was in good touch coming into the Shanghai Masters, with a semifinal run at the Winston Salem Open and a third-round finish at the US Open.
He raised his level in Shanghai to beat James Duckworth, 15th seed Lorenzo Musetti, Marcos Giron, and second seed Alexander Zverev en route to his maiden quarterfinal at the tournament. Goffin will now face 2024 US Open finalist and seventh seed Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals.
Fritz comfortably defeated 12th seed Holger Rune in his fourth-round match. The quarterfinal in Shanghai will be the third ATP Tour-level meeting between Goffin and Fritz. The duo is tied 1-1 on head-to-head, with Goffin winning the match in Cincinnati in 2019 and Fritz taking revenge in Doha in 2021.