The big names did their job on Friday in Brussels. World No. 15 David Goffin eased past hard-hitting southpaw Federico Delbonis, 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-3 to give the Belgian fans something to get rowdy over, while Leonardo Mayer finally quieted them with a four-set triumph over Steve Darcis.
“It was a tough one,” said Goffin, of his 10th career singles win in Davis Cup against just two losses. “The atmosphere is amazing here in Brussels. It’s never easy to finish every set.”
A game Delbonis battled to break Goffin back in set one, but the Belgian managed to break to love in the final game to take the opener. In set two, Delbonis again rallied from a break down but Goffin would steam past him in the tiebreaker, taking the final five points to earn a commanding two sets to love lead.
“You have to take the energy of the crowd and that’s what I did to win this tiebreaker,” Goffin said.
Though the Belgian fans were given hope in the second rubber when Steve Darcis took the third set over Argentina’s Mayer, the World No. 35 replied to improve to 5-0 in Davis Cup singles rubbers this season with a 7-6(5), 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-3 victory. Mayer’s win extended his Davis Cup winning streak to eight with a 7-6(5), 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-3 victory to bring Argentina level.