BRUSSELS — David Goffin’s stellar singles career has come to an end on Centre Court in Brussels, where Alex Michelsen brought the curtain down with a 6-3, 6-4 victory on Thursday. The former world number eight and six-time ATP title winner, also a former finalist at the ATP Finals, had extended his farewell in emphatic fashion a day earlier by beating Swiss lucky loser Remy Bertola 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday.
The Belgian cut an emotional figure during his post-match speech in the Belgian capital. “It’s not easy,” the teary-eyed Belgian admitted during his post-match remarks, translated from French. “First of all, I want to say thank you for all these videos, and to all the people my friends, my family, my opponents—who appeared in them. I want to thank them all; the messages are truly wonderful. And looking back at all these images, I realise that… it all went by so fast. When I watch these points again, it feels like it was just yesterday." He added: “Throughout my career, I believe I always tried to give the very best of myself. I believe I tried to …to progress, to give everything I had to try to reach the highest level possible, and to become a better tennis player and a better person throughout all these years. And now, it’s clear that one chapter is coming to a close, but another is beginning.”
Goffin paid tribute to those who shaped his 17 or 18 years on the professional tour, thanking his parents — who were present in Brussels — for introducing him to tennis, instilling a passion for the sport and providing the ambition to aim as high as possible. He reserved special thanks for his wife Stephanie, who he said “had to adapt and make sacrifices so that I could make a living from my passion, and so that we could spend those 17 or 18 years on the professional tour together.” He also thanked training partners, opponents, roommates and Davis Cup teammates for pushing him and sharing moments on the court, and the public who have supported him since his first introduction to the wider public at Roland-Garros in 2012. “You have been incredible throughout all these years; the support I’ve received has been extraordinary,” he said, adding he could not have dreamed of a better way to finish in front of such an atmosphere in Brussels.
Prior to the speech, a poignant video was broadcast on the big screen inside the Brussels stadium featuring tributes from across the sport. “Hello David, how are you doing man? I just want to congratulate you on your amazing career,” said Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion. “It’s been a huge pleasure to share practices, matches. Great moments together on the Tour.” Richard Gasquet added: “David, this video is meant to congratulate you on your amazing career. It was an honor to be by your side. You were an incredible person and an exceptional player.” Belgian world number 41 Zizou Bergs said: “David, it’s obviously a shame you’re going to retire, but you were great for our country and a hell of a tennis player. And actually, because of you, I got quite of a backhand, so thanks for being a big man in our small country.”
Goffin, who led Belgium to Davis Cup finals in 2015 and 2017, also thanked his team including coach Yannis Demeroutis, Eric in his player box, and Damien, Fab and Tib, alongside family and friends. “It has been a wonderful path, a magnificent career; I’ve savored every moment. Now, it’s simply time to move on to the next chapter and pass the torch to the new generation of Belgian tennis players,” he said, noting Bergs would soon step onto court. His singles career is now complete, but he has not played his final professional match, with a doubles appearance alongside compatriot Raphael Collignon scheduled for later on Thursday against Constantin Frantzen and Robert Galloway.