PARIS — If it seems Roger Federer breaks one record or another every time he wins a match, that’s because he does these days.
Then again, good as Federer is, he can’t top this: His next opponent at the French Open, Belgium’s David Goffin, is unbeaten in Grand Slam main-draw matches. (OK, so the kid’s only 3-0, but still.)
Yes, before Federer can take on Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros this year, he’ll need to defeat Goffin, the first “lucky loser” – a player beaten in qualifying who sneaks into the field via someone’s withdrawal – to reach the fourth round at any Grand Slam tournament in 17 years, and only the seventh to make it that far.
“Now I’m playing against Roger,” the 109th-ranked Goffin said after beating Lukasz Kubot of Poland, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-1, on Friday, “and I can’t believe it.”
A fresh-faced 21-year-old whose voice was barely a whisper and whose hands fidgeted during an extended interview session with reporters, Goffin matter-of-factly discussed displaying photos and posters of 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer in his bedroom as a child.
“Since I was little, I’ve watched Roger play on TV. To me, he plays almost perfect tennis. I also like him at the human level; he’s a very good person on and off the court,” said the slender, 5-foot-11 Goffin, who was able to make his Grand Slam debut because France’s Gael Monfils pulled out with a knee injury.
Informed that his next opponent is an unabashed fan, Federer grinned and replied, “Not the first time it happens.”
Probably so. After all, the 30-year-old Federer has been winning major titles since 2003, when Goffin was 12. He has been winning Grand Slam matches since 2000, and Friday’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Nicolas Mahut was Federer’s 235th, adding to his Open-era record.
Other top seeds also fared well. Novak Djokovic stretched his Grand Slam winning streak to 24 matches with a lickety-split 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Nicolas Devilder of France. The top-seeded woman, Victoria Azarenka, beat Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada, 6-4, 6-4. And No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Ayumi Morita of Japan.
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