Nikoloz Basilashvili, the Georgian tennis player stated that the 20 times Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer was always his idol. The Georgian prodigy made the comment after he came out on top against the Swiss maestro in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open Quarter Final on Thursday, March 11.
Roger Federer is out of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 🎾 #QatarExxonMobilOpen
https://t.co/puEU073zDj pic.twitter.com/9FGAKceRCy— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) March 11, 2021
Nikoloz ends the Fairytale comeback
The world number 42 Nikoloz got the better of second seed Federar by 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 as the latter failed to make a fairytale comeback after being out for nearly 14 months. Federer, who had two knee operations last year somehow managed to win against Briton Dan Evans in the Round of 16. However, his hope to clinch the Qatar Open title came to an end after suffering defeat at the hands of Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia celebrates victory in his quarter final match with Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 11, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
Basilashvili’s britzkrieg style of play was too much for the 39-years old maestro to handle as the Swiss managed to win just a set. The Georgian came back strongly to win the second as well as the third to cruise to the Qatar Open Semis.
Nikoloz conveyed in the post Quarter Final interview, “It’s unbelievable, he’s one of the greatest of all time. Just playing him means so much to me.”
Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during his quarter final loss to Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 11, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
Dream came true for Basilashvili
The 29-years-old Georgian futher asserted on his win against the Swiss, “I’m very happy he’s back playing again. To win against him is a dream come true, he was always my idol. He’s an unbelievable player.”
Nikoloz Basilashvili next to play against the World number 33 American Taylor Fritz in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open Semi Final on Friday. The American beat Denis Shapovalov in the Round of 16 by 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 to cruise to the Semi Finals.
The Semi Final match of the Doha event set to take place at the Centre Court on March 12.
