United Cup 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs David Goffin Tennis Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 United Cup as Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on David Goffin in the group stages on Monday, January 2, 2023.

Will Stefanos Tsitsipas keep up Greece’s impressive start to the United Cup? Or will David Goffin bounce back from his disappointing singles loss in the opening tie against Bulgaria? This should make for a compelling match in Perth. So who will claim the win for their country?

It didn’t take long for the United Cup to have its most thrilling match, as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov put on a show right out of the gate. Tsitsipas came out on top of a gripping contest as Greece ultimately won the tie over Bulgaria so resoundingly on day one. But things could have turned differently had Dimitrov restored parity for his country. Tsitsipas though was cool under pressure, saving three break points in the final set, before triumphing in a third-set tiebreak. He will now be looking to keep that momentum going when he faces Belgium’s David Goffin.

The tie between Belgium and Bulgaria was on the balance at the time of writing, with a mixed doubles match set to decide the final result. Goffin lost his first singles match against Dimitrov, in what was his first outing of the season. He was rusty from the back of the court as Dimitrov’s sheer pace and accuracy were enough to hit through the Belgian. Goffin’s terrible record against Dimitrov continued and he will now play a player very much in the Bulgarian’s mold in Tsitsipas. Will Goffin have the answers that he so desperately needed in his opening match?

Stefanos Tsitsipas leads David Goffin 4-2 in Tour-level meetings. Tsitsipas and Goffin have different game styles, with the Greek more of an all-round attacking player. Tsitsipas is at his best in finishing short balls in the forecourt. Goffin will need to ensure his return is firing on all cylinders to have the chance of upstaging the Greek. With that said, Tsitsipas has looked very competitive in the last couple of weeks, playing the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi against high-caliber opponents and that should serve him well at the United Cup.