Goffin stuns Djokovic in Monte Carlo

David Goffin proved too hot to handle for Novak Djokovic as the Belgian 10th seed reached the Monte Carlo semifinals with a thrilling 6-2 3-6 7-5 victory.

Former world No.1 Djokovic saved four match points but cracked under his opponent’s tremendous pressure on the fifth as Goffin advanced to the last four.

Earlier, Spanish claycourt specialist Albert Ramos followed up his victory over world No.1 Andy Murray with a 6-2 6-7(5) 6-2 defeat of Croatian fifth seed Marin Cilic.

France’s Lucas Pouille made a fast start before being made to work harder by Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas, eventually winning 6-0 3-6 7-5.

In the first European claycourt tournament of the season, Serbian second seed Djokovic was overwhelmed in a one-sided opening set before playing more patiently in the second, but Goffin put on a gritty display in the decider.

Djokovic was serving at 4-3 but Goffin won the game to roar back into contention, taking every opportunity to unsettle the French Open champion.

In the 12th game, Goffin opened a 40-15 lead on Djokovic’s serve but the 12-times grand slam champion saved four match points before netting a forehand to lose to the Belgian for the first time in six meetings.

“I started slowly probably because I played two long matches (in the previous rounds),” Djokovic told atpworldtour.com.

“But I thought as the match progressed I was feeling OK. You know, I was physically fine.

“We had a lot of exchanges, a lot of rallies. David is playing very quick. He’s a fast player. I thought I played very, very well for a set and a half, from the start of the second set.

“I had my chances, I definitely did. I just didn’t use them.”

No.4 seed Rafael Nadal, gunning for his 10th title in Monaco, beat Diego Schwartzman 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 40 minutes.