BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, August 27, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
David Goffin, who for many years has been the face of Belgium men’s professional tennis, will say goodbye to the sport at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in October.
For the 17-year veteran of the ATP Tour from Rocourt, it’s a chance for Goffin to enjoy one last tournament, one last home crowd. For Belgian fans, it’s an opportunity to celebrate Goffin’s career – an emotional farewell to their home country hero at the Brussels Expo. This year’s ATP 250 indoor hard-court event will take place from Oct. 17-25.
During the past two decades, Goffin has carried Belgian tennis onto the biggest stages in the world. He became the first Belgian man to break into the ATP Top 10. He reached a career-high ranking of World No. 7 (from November 2017-March 2018), and won six ATP Tour singles titles and reached four Grand Slam quarterfinals. He’s won more than $19.1 million in prize money.
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Nine years ago, in 2017, Goffin put together one of the greatest seasons in Belgian tennis history, reaching the final of the ATP Finals after defeating both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the same week. Years later, he showed he could still challenge the best of the current generation of stars by adding Carlos Alcaraz to the list of champions he defeated during his extraordinary career.
For a generation of Belgian tennis fans, Goffin has been the player fans grew up watching, the one whom they followed at the majors and cheered for during David Cup battles.
“David Goffin has been the face of Belgian tennis,” European Open tournament director Dick Norman said in a statement. “His results have not only made history; his professionalism, humility and perseverance have also inspired an entire generation. The fact that he will bring his career to a close at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open makes this year’s tournament even more special. Together with Belgian fans, we want to give him the farewell he so richly deserves.”
Really happy to be in the last eight at @Wimbledon for the first Time !!! 🙌🏻💪🏻👊🏻💚💜 pic.twitter.com/JqIK4hxUlG
— David Goffin (@David__Goffin) July 8, 2019
Goffin, who is currently ranked No. 310, has compiled a career win-loss record of 357-275. This season, in limited action, he has gone 2-9 in all competitions. His last match was a first-round qualifying draw loss at the Wimbledon Championships in June.
“Being able to bring my career to a close at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open, in front of my home crowd, makes it even more special. I hope to enjoy the tournament in Brussels one last time and share a memorable farewell with the fans,” Goffin said in a statement.
Besides Goffin, Belgians Zizou Bergs, ranked No. 35, and 38th-ranked Raphael Collignon are confirmed for Brussels as well as defending champion and current World No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and World No. 20 Casper Ruud of Norway.
