Goffin stuns compatriot and former champion Malisse in first round
CHENNAI, Jan 3, 2012 - Belgian David Goffin lived up to the faith placed on him by the organizers of the Aircel Chennai Open on Tuesday by pulling off a spectacular victory over compatriot and last year's runner-up Xavier Malisse 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round.
Goffin, ranked 174 in the world, was handed a wild card on the basis of his promise and his performance as a qualifier in the previous edition, and the 21-year-old rallied from a set down to shut out the 2007 champion and seventh seed Malisse in one hour and 53 minutes.
World No. 49 Malisse complained of stomach ailment after the second set after Goffin, who advanced to the second round in the previous edition, rallied remarkably from a set down to win the second after breaking his opponent in the sixth and eighth games.
"He was sick I think... stomach ailment. He was tired," Goffin told reporters after the match. "(But) He is never easy to play, even if he is sick he can hit the ball very hard."
It was Goffin's first on-court meeting against Malisse, be it in a match or practice.
"When I was young I saw him on TV. I was his fan," said Goffin, a rising talent. "Now I played him for the first time," he said.
