Tennis star thanks 'girlfriends' in awkward gaffe

David Goffin may be searching for a new girlfriend after putting his foot in it during an awkward runner-up speech.

The Belgian ace had just gone down to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6 6-4 6-1 in the final of the Rotterdam Open when he suffered an unfortunate slip of the tongue.

The tournament's number three seed started thanking his entourage for their support, when he made a giant Freudian slip that could threaten to derail his relationship.

"I know it's not far from Belgium so I know that a lot of people came here to support me," he began with.

"There is my family. There is my friends. There is girlfriends also."

A stunned silence fell on the crowd and Goffin laughed nervously as the mistake quickly dawned on him.

"Girlfriend, sorry. Without the ‘S’."

It wasn't all bad news for the Belgian, who looks set to break into the world's top 10 despite the defeat.

Goffin also walked away with more than $A250,000 in prizemoney which will probably come in handy when it comes to making it up to his girlfriend.

Maybe the Belgian can ask Rafael Nadal for some advice after the Spaniard also risked the wrath of his girlfriend during an interview in the Australian Open earlier this year.