Eighth-seeded David Goffin of Belgium served 10 aces and saved all four break points he faced to claim his second career title with a 6-4 6-3 win over Joao Sousa of Portugal in the Moselle Open final on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Goffin is enjoying a strong finish to his season and has now won 34 of his past 36 matches at all levels. After winning his maiden title on clay in Kitzbuehel, Austria, in August, Goffin has showed his versatility on the indoor hard court of Metz, where he upset top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals.
Goffin is now 2-0 against the sixth-seeded Sousa after the Belgian lost only six games when they met in the second round of the US Open.
Having started the year outside the top 100, the 45th-ranked Goffin is set to reach a new career high when the new rankings are published next week.
Serving strong and varying his double-handed backhand well, Goffin was in control from the start. He won 81 per cent of points behind his first serve and also put Sousa on the back foot with excellent returns that earned him nine break points.
Goffin set up three match points with a cross-court backhand passing shot and converted the second, falling on his back in celebration after Sousa sent a forehand into the net.
The sixth-seeded Sousa had advanced to the final after saving four match points against Paul-Henri Mathieu in the quarterfinals and rallying past second-seeded Gael Monfils in the semis.
"Today I'm not happy but it has been a beautiful week," said Sousa, who was also looking for his second title after making his breakthrough in Kuala Lumpur last year.
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