David Goffin
A nimble and resilient counterpuncher from Belgium who cracked the world's top ten, becoming his nation's most successful male tennis player.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Belgian tennis player·Birthday: December 7·Millennials
Biography
David Goffin emerged from Liège not as a powerhouse, but as a master of precision and grit. Standing a head shorter than many of his rivals, he built a game on exceptional footwork, clean ball-striking, and a stubborn refusal to yield a point. His breakthrough came in 2012, nearly derailed by a freak eye injury, but he fought back to climb the rankings with a series of elegant, upset victories over the sport's giants. In 2017, his relentless consistency propelled him to a career-high world number seven, a historic peak for a Belgian man. While injuries later tempered his trajectory, Goffin's legacy is that of the technician who proved that sheer force could be outmaneuvered by intelligence and heart on the court.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
David was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 7, the highest ever for a Belgian male tennis player.
- Became the first Belgian man to qualify for the ATP Finals in 2017.
- Led Belgium to its first Davis Cup final in over a century in 2015 and again in 2017.
- Defeated both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal during the 2017 ATP season.
Did You Know?
He suffered a serious eye injury in 2012 when a ball boy's errant racket flew into his face during a match.
Goffin is an avid fan of the football club Standard Liège.
He was a ball boy for the Fed Cup in Belgium as a teenager.
He stands at 1.80 meters (5'11"), which is considered relatively short for a top-tier modern tennis player.
“I have to use my speed and my precision because I am not the biggest guy.”
