Belgian David Goffin leaves tennis at 35 in tears

The Belgian tennis player David Goffin, ancient number seven in the world and best men’s racket of the history of Belgium, put end to your professional career at 35 years old between tears and before some 6,000 spectators in Brussels, after 17 seasons on the circuit.

The player of Liège He said goodbye after losing on Thursday night 6-3 and 6-4 against the American Alex Michelsen, number 37 in the world, in the round of 16 final of the European Open, the ATP tournament 250 held in Brussels that he had chosen to hang the racket before his audience.

“Everything happened so fast. I remember all the good times and we have already reached the end. It’s difficult. I can only thank everyone those who have allowed me to have this career,” he declared between sobs after a prolonged ovation.

The organizers They gave him a tribute with images of his best moments and messages from teammates and former rivals, including Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet and Grigor Dimitrov, In addition to his mother and his wife, Stephanie, accompanied by her daughter Emmy, of 2 years.

“Wanted to congratulate you for you incredible career. It has been a huge pleasure share training, matches and great moments with you in the circuit“, said Nadal in a recorded message.

But they were words from his family the ones that ended up breaking his voice. Goffin He thanked his wife for the sacrifices made to accompany him in “a life at 100 per hour” and put the little girl they raise together above the tennis.

“Our daughter is the oldest victory of my career”, he assured.

He Belgian had managed to postpone his farewell on Wednesday by coming back against the Swiss Rémy Bertola (3-6, 6-3 and 6-4) after being 3-0 down in the last set.

A day later he could not repeat the feat and also resigned from competing in the doubles quarterfinals with his compatriot Raphael Collignon, who suffered a minor injury.

Born on December 7, 1990 in the French-speaking city of Liège, Goffin started to play tennis At six years old, held by his father’s hand, Michel, coach at a local club, and debuted as professional in 2009.

His international emergence arrived in Roland Garros in 2012, when it reached round of 16 as refished from the previous phase and fell before Roger Federer his childhood idol.

With a light physique and 1.80 meters tall, he compensated for the lower power of his blows with speed, anticipation, precision from the track background and a excellent reverse.

It was the first belgian to enter among the ten best tennis players in the world and reached his highest ranking, he seventh placed, in 2017, the best year of his career.

That season he conquered the shenzhen tournaments and Tokyo and disputed the final of the London ATP Finals, where he fell before Dimitrov after defeat Nadal and Federer in the same edition.

In total, won six ATP titles, played four Grand Slam quarterfinals and contributed to Belgium will reach the Davis Cup finals of 2015 and 2017.

Also defeated to Novak Djokovic and, already in the final stretch of his career, he surprised Carlos Alcaraz in Miami in 2025, although successive injuries had diminished his performance and him They distanced themselves from the elite.

“I hope that the young david I was impressed,” he reflected. Goffin when doing balance of a career from which he is leaving, he said, without regrets and with the sensation if there was given everything.

“It’s not easy imagine one more goodbye pretty”, wrote the Flemish newspaper ‘Het Nieuwsblad’, while the newspaper ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ highlighted the inscription that Goffin he wore on his jacket during the tournament: “Game. Set. Merci” (Game, set, thank you).

Goffin retires like best male tennis player in the history of Belgium, a country that, however, has gone even further in the women’s circuit, with two old world number one: Justine Henin, winner of seven individual titles grand slam and Kim Clijsters, who conquered four.