Third time wasn’t the charm for Gijs Brouwer

Gijs Brouwer got three set points in the first set, but it was not enough in the docks of Rotterdam. The only Dutchman in the decisive qualifying round at the ABN AMRO Open played well on a Court 1 packed with its with 1,200 spectators. Unfortunately, he had to give away his ticket for the main draw to Belgian David Goffin: 6-7 (8-10) 2-6. "I had my chances, but I didn't take them,” was his sad conclusion.
 

Goffin, now 33 years of age, and a former number 7 in the world ranking, played the final in Rotterdam Ahoy seven years ago. Brouwer, the 27-year-old 'lefty', qualified for the Netherlands' biggest tennis event for the first time last year, and reached the quarter-finals. He will lose his record number of ATP points from then, 125, next Monday and will then be rewarded with 'only' 13 new points (as the winner of one qualifying match). Quite a loss for a player just outside the top 150.
 

"That’s not what created pressure. I knew it in advance and didn't think about it during my match," said Brouwer, who served for two of the three set points in the tiebreak, while Goffin looked at his coach with an increasingly desperate look in the stands. Michiel Schapers' pupil missed those three opportunities and, from then on could no longer cause problems for his opponent, much to the Belgian’s relief. 

After the subsequent set loss. Brouwer, won a losers' premium of 8,535 euros as a consolation prize: "It was of course a shame that I did not win the first set. I should have kept a little more margin on my forehand. Today, this Goffin has a difficult game style for me. He makes you walk a lot and puts you in uncomfortable situations."