Dimitrov is unbeaten so far this week, yesterday coming back from a set down to Jack Sock to win 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, completing his fourth win of the week and ensuring he will finish the season ranked No 3 in the world.
It will be the first time the Bulgarian will even finish inside the top 10 but he would dearly love to add an ATP World Tour Finals title to his 2017 trophy cabinet.
Goffin is also going to end the year inside the top 10 for the first time, although he was just one place away from doing so 12 months ago.
The Belgian already has two titles this year but has not beaten this level of opposition at the final hurdle – however, having triumped over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal already this week, confidence wil not be in short supply.
Dimitrov vs Goffin LIVE
(* denotes next to serve)
Dimitrov 7-5, 3-2 Goffin*
Dimitrov finds a fifth ace of the match to make it 40-15 and Goffin just about gets a racket on it to stop game point being the sixth.
*Dimitrov 7-5, 2-2 Goffin
A love hold for Goffin now. The beginning of this set could hardly be more different from the start of the first.
Dimitrov 7-5, 2-1 Goffin*
Goffin’s return game was nowhere on Wednesday but he’s definitely improved today. He forces Dimitrov to deuce but finds himself blasted out of the game two points later.
*Dimitrov 7-5, 1-1 Goffin
Speedy hold follows speedy hold, which will probably make Goffin feel a bit better about life. Not that he’ll show it. Even when he smiles, the Belgian seems a bit sad about it.
Dimitrov 7-5, 1-0 Goffin*
A speedy hold from the Bulgarian who will surely look to put the hammer down now.
Dimitrov is unbeaten so far this week, yesterday coming back from a set down to Jack Sock to win 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, completing his fourth win of the week and ensuring he will finish the season ranked No 3 in the world.
It will be the first time the Bulgarian will even finish inside the top 10 but he would dearly love to add an ATP World Tour Finals title to his 2017 trophy cabinet.
Goffin is also going to end the year inside the top 10 for the first time, although he was just one place away from doing so 12 months ago.
The Belgian already has two titles this year but has not beaten this level of opposition at the final hurdle – however, having triumped over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal already this week, confidence wil not be in short supply.
Dimitrov vs Goffin LIVE
(* denotes next to serve)
Dimitrov 7-5, 3-2 Goffin*
Dimitrov finds a fifth ace of the match to make it 40-15 and Goffin just about gets a racket on it to stop game point being the sixth.
*Dimitrov 7-5, 2-2 Goffin
A love hold for Goffin now. The beginning of this set could hardly be more different from the start of the first.
Dimitrov 7-5, 2-1 Goffin*
Goffin’s return game was nowhere on Wednesday but he’s definitely improved today. He forces Dimitrov to deuce but finds himself blasted out of the game two points later.
*Dimitrov 7-5, 1-1 Goffin
Speedy hold follows speedy hold, which will probably make Goffin feel a bit better about life. Not that he’ll show it. Even when he smiles, the Belgian seems a bit sad about it.
Dimitrov 7-5, 1-0 Goffin*
A speedy hold from the Bulgarian who will surely look to put the hammer down now.
GRIGOR DIMITROV WINS THE FIRST SET 7-5!
Dimitrov heaps the pressure on at 5-6 and when Goffin fires long, there are two set points for the Bulgarian.
A superb serve down the middle saves the first one and he goes behind Dimitrov with the forehand to deal with the second.
But his slice volley spins agonisingly wide at deuce…only for another unreturnable serve to get him out of trouble. Some epic defence at the net almost gives him game point but instead it’s set point No 4 which Dimitrov again can’t take, flying a forehand too far and his backhand return of serve follows. But it’s ANOTHER double-fault followed by another error and one point later, there are Bulgarian flags waving everywhere!
Dimitrov 6-5 Goffin*
Double-faulting is not a pretty or clever habit, but Dimitrov has got it. Two in a row make it 15-30, only for a powerful backhand and an ace to tip the balance his way again.
Dimitrov holds and Goffin will once again serve to stay in the set.
*Dimitrov 5-5 Goffin
Superb stuff from Goffin, whose serve buys him half the game and backhand buys him the rest. Both players seem to have settled now and it’s turning into a very entertaining final.
Dimitrov 5-4 Goffin*
Not much question that the Bulgarians are either more numerous or at the very least louder in here tonight. Dimitrov has to stretch impossibly for a heavy silcing ball but does so brilliantly, forcing Goffin back and completing the point with a touch volley. A superb forehand pass and a long Goffin forehand and 40 minutes in, Dimitrov has the lead for the first time.
*Dimitrov 4-4 Goffin
Initially, clutch tennis from Goffin, who serve-and-volleys at 0-30 and 15-30, slicing the first volley and driving the second to get him out of trouble.
But after that good work, he double-faults to bring up break point and flies a forehand long to bring us all level again!
Dimitrov 3-4 Goffin*
A speedy hold for Dimitrov who will be glad of that. He admitted to being short of his best yesterday and has yet to kick out of that funk.
*Dimitrov 2-4 Goffin
Goffin is again under a bit of pressure on serve, self-inflicted for the most part after a poor double-fault, but his ground-strokes are on fleek (as I believe they say).
He holds and is moving towards crucial first set for his confidenc as much as anything else.
Dimitrov 2-3 Goffin*
Dimitrov gets his first service hold, albeit not without incident. A big serve helps him out at 30-30 before Goffin jumps all over a second serve to force deuce. However, the Bulgarian finds a way out of the game.
*Dimitrov 1-3 Goffin
A hold! Goffin gets his first serve going and consolidates his break with an ace.
I’ve just spotted Patrick Stewart court-side. I’m rather worried he might on his own though. David Beckham is around somewhere too. Can’t he go keep him company?
Dimitrov 1-2 Goffin*
Anyone fancy holding serve? A double-fault at 0-15 gets him in trouble and a fine Goffin forehand brings up three break points. The first two go begging but the third does not, Dimitrov coming in on the backhand wing before Goffin finds a superb passing shot across his body.
*Dimitrov 1-1 Goffin
A nervy start from both players, Goffin netting a forehand to bring up break point, but Dimitrov goes long once again on the forehand wing to make it deuce.
Another error – a backhand into the net this time – brings up break point No 2 and this time Goffin can’t save it.
Dimitrov 0-1 Goffin*
Goffin is handed an early break point opportunity by a careless forehand from Dimitrov, but a net cord aids him in the next point and the Belgian can’t find a way through.
A very similar mistake, sending a high-spin forehand long, gives the receiver his second opportunity of the first game. Goffin runs round a second serve and hits a sweet forehand winner to seal it!
6.15pm: One minute has been called. Dimitrov won the toss and will serve first…
6pm: The show is about to start – the stadium goes pitch black. Goffin and Dimitrov will be out on court any minute, meaning we are 10 minutes away from starting.
5.50pm: The stadium is slowly filling up with the players due on court in about five minutes’ time.
Goffin insisted on Wednesday night he was “100 per cent” fit but then in the opening stages of the Federer match, he really did look world-weary. Still won though, so perhaps expect him to play possum for a few games.
Dimitrov meanwhile has had a speedy turn around since beating Jack Sock last night – he might have a similarly slow start.
5.30pm: Clearly, Grigor and David didn’t read the script. This was supposed to be Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal again, wasn’t it?
Well one pulled out and one was out-played yesterday by Goffin, so both of these men have well and truly earned their place in the final with some stunning performances.
Goffin’s one slip-up this week came, oddly, against Dimitrov, when he was smashed 6-0, 6-2 with the win over Nadal certainly having an effect on him. Will the Federer win yesterday leave him similarly leggy? Only time will tell.
