What at first appeared to be an exercise in damage limitation grew into an increasingly potent threat as Goffin's serve subdued Federer, who fired a forehand long on his only break point in the set. The match turned early in the second set, when Goffin swung a cross-court forehand into space vacated by Federer to edge 2-0 ahead. Two rasping backhand winners down the line helped the Swiss to a second break at 4-1 and the set was wrapped up in little over half an hour. Goffin battled gamely to cling on in his opening service game but Federer took it on the fifth break point and went on to dominate the set. 'He's crushed me too many times in practice to not also do it once in a match situation.' It was my day - Goffin Goffin saved nine of 11 break points as he held off Federerįederer went into the semi-final with a 6-0 record against Goffin, whose resistance appeared to have been broken after only seven minutes. 'When he had them, he was very committed. 'It's a bit disappointing for me because it's indoors, it's a court I like to play on, but I had my chances and missed them,' said Federer. The Swiss can reflect on a remarkable year in which he has won two more major titles, among 52 match victories, but it is six years since he last won the ATP Finals. Dimitrov had lost his last three meetings with Sock - twice having held match points He's crushed me in practice - Federerįederer, 36, had been a strong favourite to land his seventh title at the season finale, but will be absent from Sunday's final after suffering only his fifth defeat of 2017. 'It's the last match of the season so, full house, and we're on.'īritain's Jamie Murray and Brazilian Bruno Soares lost 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to defending champions Henri Kontinen and John Peers in the doubles semi-finals. 'It's another match - I just need to keep on playing,' said Dimitrov.

The sixth seed came through 4-6 6-0 6-3 against American eighth seed Jack Sock in the second semi-final.ĭimitrov, 26, will play Goffin for the second time this week, having thrashed the Belgian 6-0 6-2 in the group stage on Wednesday. Goffin will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in Sunday's final. I cannot describe how I'm feeling - so much joy, so much happiness,' said Goffin.

Bbc red button atp final 2017