Goffin aiming to end title drought

David Goffin has a chance to end a three-year title drought when he contests the Shenzhen final today.

The world No.12 last won an ATP World Tour singles title in September 2014. He has lost his past six finals appearances, including two so far this season.

The 26-year-old from Belgium had to fight hard to overcome Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen in the semifinals, winning 7-6(7) 5-7 6-3 in a two hour, 16 minute battle.

Fifth-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov waits in the final. The 28-year-old Ukrainian snapped Damir Dzumhur’s eight-match winning streak with a 6-3 6-4 semifinal victory.

The No.53-ranked Dolgopolov won his only previous meeting with Goffin in the US Open first round in 2013.

“David is for sure a solid player,” Dolgopolov said. “I’ll just go and fight.”

Baghdatis aiming for Chengdu glory

Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis has been waiting even longer to add to his ATP title collection. A four-time ATP singles champion, his last title was in Sydney in 2010.

The 32-year-old ranked No.113 won two matches yesterday to reach his first final since February 2016. He completed a 6-3 6-2 quarterfinal victory over Taiwan’s Yen-Hsun Lu, then returned to the court to beat Argentinean Guido Pella 5-7 6-4 6-2.

“I feel great because I think I kept a very good level throughout the match,” Baghdatis said after his semifinal. “I’m pretty happy I am improving and finding my movement back and my energy on court.”

He now faces Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin in the final. The 31-year-old upset fifth seed Yuichi Sugita 6-2 6-7(4) 6-0 in the semifinals.

The world No.78-ranked Istomin is aiming to win his second ATP title. He beat an injured Baghdatis in the semifinals en route to his sole title in Nottingham 2015.

“It’s going to be tricky. I just go on court and try to do my best,” Istomin said of his chances.