David Goffin has come from a set down to knock world number 20 Ernests Gulbis out of the Madrid Open in the first round this evening.
The Belgian dropped his serve midway through the opening set to give Gulbis the lead, and it was enough for the Latvian to clinch the opener in a little over half an hour.
Goffin responded well in the second though, attacking from the back of the court to force Gulbis to drop his first service game of the set.
The world number 20 continued to struggle on his serve, just holding his next to get a game on the board, before allowing his opponent to win three games in a row, levelling the match.
It looked like the Belgian had the edge in the deciding set when Gulbis was broken for the third time in five service games, but the Latvian hit back straight away.
The set remained level until, at 5-5, a string of errors gave Goffin a run of break points, four of which Gulbis was able to save before his opponent finally claimed the game, leaving him to serve the match out comfortably.
Goffin faces fourth seed and Barcelona Open champion Kei Nishikori in the next round.
Sian Cowper
