Georgia’s No. 1 tennis player Basilashvili defeats Swiss legend Federer
Nikoloz Basilashvili, 29, played with 'consistent aggression from the baseline' to rush Roger Federer and earn a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory. Photo: David Gray/ATP Tour
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Georgia’s top tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili has made history by defeating the 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha today.
Basilashvili, 29, played 'with consistent aggression from the baseline' to rush Federer and earn a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory.
???????? Nikoloz Basilashvili is semi-final bound in Doha.
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 11, 2021
He saves a match point & defeats Roger Federer 3-6, 6-1, 7-5. pic.twitter.com/M6xqHVeKnV
The global governing body of men’s professional tennis ATP reports that Basilashvili entered the tournament on a five-match losing streak but, with his first win against world No. 6 Roger Federer 'the 29-year-old is through to his first semi-final since the 2019 Hamburg European Open'.
It also says that Basilashvili 'played with all-out aggression on his backhand to turn the match decisively in his favour'.
Until next time, Roger.
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 11, 2021
????: @TennisTV | @rogerfederer | @QatarTennis pic.twitter.com/DnYWizo2bL
Basilashvili said in an on-court interview that Federer is 'one of the greatest of all time'.
To just play him means so much to me. I am really happy that he came back and is playing again. To win against him is a dream come true for me. He was always my idol and I am sure he is to many tennis players and fans. He is an unbelievable player, so I am extremely happy", Basilashvili said.
Who's advancing to the semi-finals in Doha?@QatarTennis
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 11, 2021
The world No. 42, Basilashvili, will now face Taylor Fritz for a place in the championship match on March 13.
Nikoloz Basilashvili, who was charged with violence again his ex-wife Neli Dorokashvili last year and is on bail now, denies the charges.