ATP Doha: Roger Federer is defeated by Nikoloz Basilashvili in crime
Nikoloz Basilashvilisuddenly ended Roger Federer's comeback at the ATP 250 event in Doha. The Georgian defeated the 20-time Grand Slam winner 3: 6, 6: 1 and 7: 5 and is in the semi-finals. ( Here you can read the match in the live ticker ).
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Mar 11, 2021, 06:39 pm
The big comeback tour of Roger Federer goes into the next round: After the Swiss won against Dan Evans at the start, the 20-time Grand Slam winner against the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili was looking for a place in the semifinals of the ATP 250 events from Doha, which Federer has chosen for his return to the ATP tour.
As against the British Evans, it was above all the serve that should work at an extremely high level for Federer. But even from the baseline, the 39-year-old showed a number of those attributes in this game that have made him stay at the top of the world for so long. Accordingly, it was Roger Federer who first benefited from a double fault by the Georier when the score was 2: 1 - and then knew how to use the breakball after a strong backhand.
Federer gets sentence one
As a result, Federer was able to prevent two chances of the immediate rebreak - also because the serve worked particularly well in these moments - and made it 4: 1. The decision in this first set: The 20-time Grand Slam winner left practically nothing with his own service and managed to win the set 6: 3 after just 40 minutes.
In round two, however, it was Nikoloz Basilashvili who found the first break chances - and who was supposed to transform in the second game. Although Federer had three chances for the immediate rebreak immediately, Basilashvili was able to fend them off and pulled away to 3-0. As a result, there was no lack of opportunities for the Swiss, but the world number six could not take advantage of any of them.
Basilashvili enforces decision set
So it was Basilashvili who was able to secure another break and a little later made the set balance perfect with 6: 1. As with Roger Federer's first appearance in the desert city, round three had to make the decision. The world number six seemed a bit tired towards the end of the second set, but should be wide awake at the start of the last round.
At least in his own service games. As a setback, there were no significant opportunities for any player in the initial phase of the third set, up to the score of 3: 3 - the world number 42. came to three break chances, which Federer knew how to thwart each after intensive baseline exchanges. Minutes later, the Swiss got his chance, had a break at 5: 4 - and match point, but couldn't use it.
Semi-final against Taylor Fritz
In the next game, this thriller from a tennis match was continued: After simple mistakes from the baseline, Nikoloz Basilashvili got two breakballs, who immediately knew how to use the first one. After almost two hours, the world number 42. then close the sack with your own serve - and abruptly end Roger Federer's comeback.
In the semi-finals, the Georgian will face Taylor Fritz on Friday. The American had defeated Denis Shapovalov, who was fourth, in the first game of the day 5: 7, 6: 3 and 7: 5.
Here you can read the match between Federer and Basilashvili in the live ticker