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Nikoloz Basilashvili
ATP Tennis Players, Tennis News

‘It means a lot for sure,’ Nikoloz Basilashvili romps into Doha final


Nikoloz Basilashvili has completed the line-up for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021 final by defeating Taylor Fritz in straight sets. 

Nikoloz Basilashvili beat the young American 7-6 6-1 to reach his 6th ATP final and first since winning Hamburg in July 2019.

‘I had a pretty tough time during the pandemic,’ he said in his on-court interview. ‘I didn’t play that well. But, to be in the final means a lot.’

Coming into this week in Doha, Basilashvili was on a losing streak of five matches and had only won 2 of his last 16 matches on tour, stretching back to Cincinnati 2020.

‘I’m playing really well, I’m happy with how I’m playing,’ he went on to say. ‘I’m really relaxed, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s final.

‘It’s really nice to have some spectators here. We didn’t have that pleasure for a long time. I think that was one of the most important things [for me].

‘Obviously, in general, it’s tough times for everybody and I hope that it’s gonna finish soon and we can come back to a normal reality of tennis again with fans and a nice atmosphere.’

Nikoloz Basilashvili will face Roberto Bautista Agut in the Doha final on Saturday.


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