Western & Southern Open Men's Final Preview: Goffin set to face Medvedev in Cincinnati showdown

Despite both players being in good form at times this year, not many would have predicted a final between Daniil Medvedev and David Goffin to end off proceedings at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Novak Djokovic was the main obstacle standing in the way of Medvedev; as the Serbian looked to retain his title and a 34th title at this level but the Russian claimed an upset win to set up the final.

Medvedev said afterwards ahead of the final that he tries to take every match the same no matter who he is playing; he said that his mindset doesn't change when facing Goffin or for example Nadal and so he will take that into the final.

“I try to take every match, no matter who I'm playing, the same,” Medvedev said. “I don't feel any extra pressure or [take] any extra confidence that I'm playing Goffin and not, for example, Rafa. But probably in percentage changes, yes; I have a better chance to win against David than against Rafa, but it does not mean that I cannot lose.”

Recently, Medvedev has reached the final at the Rogers Cup losing out to Rafael Nadal in a tame effort; but instead of getting downbeat he has continued that on this week and he believes he has to be aggressive in his final against Goffin.

“I think I will need to play aggressively, especially remembering my match in Wimbledon against David. I felt that I couldn't keep up with his consistency when he's in great shape,” Medvedev said. “At one moment I stepped up my game kind of like today with aggression and I almost won the match, though I lost it, and I think I'm going to have to be aggressive tomorrow.”

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Goffin is on the other end of the spectrum in terms of form with this week's run being unexpected in some ways. This is due to it being his first ATP Masters 1000 final and if he wins, his first title since Tokyo in 2017.

He said though that he is taking it step by step but to reach a first 1000 point final is really nice especially as he's the first Belgian to do so.

“I'm just focused on what I have to do step by step. I’ll try to do my best. I try to win every match, and then we see at the end,” Goffin said. “To reach the first Masters 1000 [final] for a Belgian, of course for such a small country it's really nice.”

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