In another setback in a season of disappointments, Novak Djokovic lost for the first time to David Goffin on Friday and was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000.
Goffin, who called this the most important victory of his career, won 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 and got his first win against the Serb in six matches.
Djokovic, second-seeded, could not hold a 4-2 lead in the third round. The Belgian broke the serve in the eighth game, and then confirmed his service.
Goffin had failed to win a set in his previous clashes against the Serb, who was inactive for several weeks with an elbow injury before returning to the courts to play in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. Goffin won the first set in just over 30 minutes.
Djokovic started slow, probably as a consequence of the two long games that he played in previous rounds. Although he said in the post-game interview that he felt good as the match progressed and that he was physically fine, he did point out that the Belgian played very fast.
Goffin will face the winner of the match between Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the semifinals.
Goffin reaches the semi-finals of a Masters 1,000 for the third time in his career following the 2016 defeats against Djokovic and Canadian Milos Raonic in Miami and Indian Wells, respectively.
Nadal is a nine-time winner of this tournament and right now looks like the most solid choice to win this year’s tournament and get that 10th trophy.
In another match, Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas lost to Frenchman Lucas Pouille.
Pouille, who defeated Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the round of 16, prevailed 6-0, 3-6, 7-5, and will face Albert Ramos Viñolas in the semifinals. Ramos, who defeated Andy Murray in the round of 16, beat Croatian Marin Cilic, 6-2, 6 -7, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
