Tearful farewell: Goffin ends career in Brussels – Wawrinka beaten in Lyon
David Goffin lost 3-6, 4-6 to Alex Michelsen at his home event and retires. On the same day Stan Wawrinka fell to Flavio Cobolli – his final tournament comes in Basel next week.
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Belgian tennis has said goodbye to one of its greats. David Goffin lost 6-3, 6-4 to American Alex Michelsen in the second round in Brussels on Thursday – according to the ATP, his final tour-level event at the age of 35. Goffin reached a career-high of No. 7 in the rankings, won six tour-level titles and played in the final of the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals in London. The ATP notes he recorded at least one win over Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz, among others.
"I gave everything I had until the very end," Goffin told the ATP. "I am proud of my entire career." He was given an emotional on-court ceremony after the match. Michelsen meets top seed Arthur Fils in the quarter-finals; the Frenchman advanced after a walkover from Jaume Munar.
Stan Wawrinka is also on a farewell tour: a day after his marathon win over Martín Landaluce, the 41-year-old Swiss lost 6-2, 6-4 to Italian top seed Flavio Cobolli in Lyon. According to Tennis Temple it was his last appearance in front of a French crowd; next week he ends his career at the tournament in Basel. Cobolli, who is chasing a place at the ATP Finals in Turin, faces Kyrian Jacquet or Brandon Nakashima in the quarter-finals.