Alex De Minaur has got his 2021 season off to a flying start, overcoming second seed David Goffin to reach the final of the Antalya Open.
The Australian fourth seed showed his trademark fight as he booked his place in his eighth ATP final 6-4 3-6 6-2 in just under two hours.
De Minaur immediately made his mark on the contest, breaking the serve of Goffin in the opening game of the match.
He would keep the pressure on as he raced away with the first set, earning another break point opportunity in the third game.
Whilst the Australian landed less than 50% of his first serves in the first set, he managed to lose just three points on serve as his mobility appeared to trouble Goffin.
He would eventually serve out the set, taking it 6-4 in just over 40 minutes.
De Minaur’s serving struggles would come back to haunt him in the second set, broken to love by Goffin in the second game.
Despite the best efforts of the 21-year-old, Goffin’s precision forehand was the difference in the second set as he claimed it 6-3.
Both guys would trade breaks in the third set as neither seemed to be able to land a first serve.
In the end, De Minaur managed to nail the killer blow on the run, producing a picture-perfect loft after scrambling to stay alive in the 15+ shot rally to hand him three break point opportunities.
Incroyable de minaur #AntalyaOpen #atp pic.twitter.com/FTn61qUs3W
— Rudy 🇲🇭 (@rudy_34mhsc) January 12, 2021
He would immediately convert after a Goffin error to take a 4-2 lead in the final set.
The 21-year-old would seal the match shortly afterwards, once again breaking Goffin to take the match 6-4 3-6 6-2.
De Minaur will face the winner of Alexander Bublik and Jeremy Chardy in the final.