Nikoloz Basilashvili praised by World No. 1 Nadal after US Open tennis match
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Georgia’s leading tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili has been praised for his performance in the US Open round of Last 16 by the World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, following their three hour, 20 minute match in New York on Sunday.
The 26-year old, Tbilisi-born athlete reached the fourth round in a major competition for the first time to face the famed Spaniard on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Their encounter ran for four sets, with the first two going in favour of the Mallorca-born 17 Grand Slam title-winner 6-3, 6-3.
But the Georgian displayed his unwillingness to concede the match after winning a tiebreak to take the third set 6-7.
Nadal then came back in the fourth set to win 6-4 and claim the encounter, before noting it was a “very tough” test.
“[Basilashvili] was hitting the ball very strong. Seems like I was not in control of the point even when I was hitting good shots”, the top-ranked Spaniard told reporters after the game.
The fixture marked a major improvement against Nadal for the Georgian player, who lost 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 to the fearsome opponent at the 2017 French Open.
It is also another highlight of a career year for Basilashvili, who marked his all-time highest career ranking of World No. 33 earlier this year.
He also became the first Georgian to win an ATP World Tour title in July, taking the silverware of a competition in Hamburg.
The win saw him elevated to World No. 35, the highest-ever singles ranking for a Georgian athlete, before he also reached the 33rd spot later in the season.
In his comments in Hamburg Basilashvili noted the effects of working with Jan De Witt — his new coach who previously worked with players including Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils — in achieving the title-winning form.
The US Open Last 16 match between Nadal and Basilashvili also saw Zaza Pachulia, Georgia’s top basketball star playing in US’ National Basketball Association, in attendance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Detroit Pistons athlete told the media he followed Basilashvili’s performances and thought the match against Nadal was a “step forward” for the country’s top tennis player.