David Goffin calls time on his career, reflecting on the match he calls his greatest win

David Goffin has confirmed he’ll retire after the 2026 tennis season

David Goffin is set to hang up his racket at the close of the 2026 season, bringing an end to a long and distinguished career.

The Belgian announced his decision in a video posted on Instagram, calling it ‘one of the hardest decisions of his life.’

The 35-year-old was once as high as seventh in the world rankings but now sits outside the top 150.

As Goffin prepares to wrap up his time in professional tennis, it’s worth revisiting one of the standout moments from his career.

David Goffin calls his 2017 win over Roger Federer the highlight of his career

Goffin’s trip to London for the 2017 ATP Finals is one he’ll always remember.

Going into the tournament as the seventh seed, few expected him to even get out of his group.

But he defied expectations, picking up surprising wins over Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem along the way.

The draw then handed him a matchup with Roger Federer in the semifinals, with Federer having gone unbeaten in his group.

Federer, seeded second, quickly took control, winning the opening set 6-2 at the O2 Arena.

Naturally, Goffin was thrilled with how he played. In his post-match press conference, he called it the best win of his career.

“Both are really special. It was my first time against Rafa [Nadal]. Then this semifinal was my first here,” Goffin said at that time.

“To beat Roger [Federer] for the first time at such a big event was perfect timing. Yes, it is definitely my best win.”

It’s hard to argue against that statement. Beating two legends like Nadal and Federer within days of each other is no small feat. Although Goffin didn’t go on to lift more major trophies after that run – with an ATP Masters title still eluding him – it remains a significant chapter in an impressive career and a memory likely to last long after he steps away from tennis for good.

David Goffin holds two wins over Carlos Alcaraz

Goffin claimed his first win over a world number one by beating Nadal at the 2017 ATP Finals.

He faced the Spaniard again three years later at the ATP Cup, where he picked up another win.

His third and final victory over a top-ranked player came at the 2022 Astana Open in Kazakhstan.

Sitting 66th in the rankings, Goffin faced off against tournament favourite and top seed Alcaraz in the opening round.

Pushing back against expectations, Goffin stunned Alcaraz in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.

The two didn’t meet again until three years later, by which time Alcaraz had dropped to world number three.

The rematch came in the second round of the 2025 Miami Open.

Alcaraz started well, taking a late break to claim the first set 7-5. But just as he did years earlier against Federer, Goffin rose to the occasion once more.

The Belgian took control from there, winning the next two sets 6-4 and 6-3 to pull off one of the season’s biggest surprises. Even now, Goffin leads their head-to-head meetings. If he avoids another matchup before retiring this year, he’ll walk away with a winning record over a seven-time Grand Slam champion — something few players can say.

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