David Goffin came of age by upsetting the great Roger Federer with a shock 2-6 6-3 6-4 victory to make it through to Sunday’s showpiece at the season-ending ATP Finals at London’s O2 arena.
The world No 2 walked out on court for his 14th semifinal at the tournament against Belgium’s Goffin, with the Swiss veteran bidding for a seventh end-of-season title.
Federer, who has won the ATP Finals a record six times, but not since 2011, required five break point chances in a seven-minute opening game to make the breakthrough.
Goffin, who reached the semis after beating world No 1 Rafael Nadal, and later thumping his good friend Dominic Thiem on Friday, was being given the runaround.
It was not long before the Swiss secured a double break thanks to a couple of sublime backhand winners and he sealed the set in 33 minutes.
The seventh seed, who will lead Belgium in the Davis Cup final against France next weekend, started the second set with plenty of positivity and surprised Federer by breaking him for just the third time in the entire tournament before opening up a quick-fire 3-0 lead.
Goffin was taking Federer out of his comfort zone, and turned the match on its head before closing out the set in fine fashion.
Goffin broke the 19-time Grand Slam champion in the third game of the decider in an incredible transformation with the confidence now oozing from the 26-year-old.
And he became just the fifth man to beat Federer this season while also ending his six-match losing streak against the 36-year-old.
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