“I am proud of my entire career. I have given everything to achieve my goals,” David Goffin told the ATP after his final singles match.

David Goffin brought his 17-year singles career to a close on Thursday at the European Open in Brussels, losing 3-6, 4-6 in the second round to fifth-seeded American Alex Michelsen, GrenzEcho reported. The 35-year-old Liège native, ranked No. 657 in the world, had delayed his retirement a night earlier by defeating Swiss Remy Bertola in three sets.

Brussels Exit Ends 17-Year Professional Run

Against the 22-year-old Michelsen, who holds the No. 37 ranking, Goffin found the round of 16 to be his final singles hurdle. Tennis World Italia noted that Goffin shed tears after his opening-round comeback victory against Bertola, reflecting the fierce dedication that defined his trajectory on the professional tour.

Goffin retires as the most successful Belgian tennis player in history. Over a decade and a half at the elite level, he reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 7, captured six ATP singles titles, and finished as runner-up in nine other tour finals. BRF Nachrichten pointed out that his breakthrough arrived in 2012 at the French Open, where he reached the fourth round as a lucky loser.

Career Highlights and Knee Injuries Lead to Retirement

The veteran’s resume features a historic run to the final at the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals in London, where he defeated Roger Federer in the semifinals after earlier beating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He also reached the final of the Cincinnati Masters and twice carried Belgium into the Davis Cup final, in 2015 and 2017.

Yet injuries regularly interrupted his momentum. BRF Nachrichten reported that persistent knee trouble ultimately drove him toward his retirement at the end of 2025.

“A younger David would say that it’s a great career with many emotional moments — with the opportunity to play in extraordinary places, perform in front of packed crowds, and contest Davis Cup matches,” Goffin reflected to the ATP. “I hope that the David of back then would be impressed by what I was able to achieve.”

Remaining Belgian Contenders in Brussels

Goffin’s competitive week in Brussels is not completely over. He remains active in the doubles draw, partnering with compatriot Raphaël Collignon in the quarterfinals after receiving a wild card into the main draw to face Germany’s Constantin Frantzen and American Robert Galloway.

Collignon, ranked No. 55, also exited the singles tournament on Thursday following a 4-6, 2-6 defeat to second-seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka (No. 20). With Goffin and Collignon eliminated in singles, Zizou Bergs (No. 41) stands as the last remaining Belgian singles player in the tournament, scheduled to face Bosnian opponent Damir Dzumhur (No. 83) on Thursday evening, according to GrenzEcho. Gauthier Onclin (No. 178) bowed out earlier in the week against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff (No. 58).