Nikoloz Basilashvili’s appearance in the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open is one of the most surprising developments in recent tennis history.
The talent has always been there for Basilashvili, but to say that the results have not would be a gross understatement. Dating back to the second round of last year’s Australian Open, had been 4-16 in his last 22 matches heading into this week. He had not defeated anyone in the top 266 since Dubai last February.
From completely out of nowhere, however, Basilashvili in Doha has defeated John Millman, Malek Jaziri, Roger Federer, and Taylor Fritz. The 29-year-old Georgian saved one match point to beat Federer 3-6, 7-1, 7-5 in the quarterfinals and then played a consistently solid match in the semis to oust Taylor Fritz 7-6(3), 6-1.
“To reach the final means a lot,” Basilashvili assured. “I am playing well and I am relaxed. It’s great to play in front of a crowd and a nice atmosphere.”
The final hurdle on Saturday comes in the form of familiar foe Roberto Bautista Agut, who leads the head-to-head series 3-1. They most recently faced each other last fall in Hamburg, where Bautista Agut cruised 6-4, 6-3 at a tournament that Basilashvili has won twice.
Without question Bautista Agut has been by far the best player in Doha. The 13th-ranked Spaniard punched his ticket to the title match with victories over Reilly Opelka, Alexander Bublik, Dominic Thiem, and Andrey Rublev. He was especially impressive the past two days, upsetting the top-seeded Thiem in three sets and then knocking off a red-hot Rublev 6-3, 6-4.
Bautista Agut won this event in 2019 and he is looking like the winner in 2021, as well.
Pick: Bautista Agut in 2
I wonder if Rublev’s walkovers really did him any favors?
Surprised by Rublev straight set loss….so RBA in 2.
W.T.H. happened this week?!?
Will happen next week as well, thats my prediction of the unpredictable
Crazy results. It just goes to show that when a player has been out of form for a long stretch, as soon as they have a good patch they can be a world-beater.
Poor Fed losing to Basilashvili. Can’t be too happy with that but at least he won a match and lost to the eventual winner.
I don’t think it was losing to Bashy that bothered Fed. He just wasn’t recovering the way he’ll need to in order to get through enough matches to go deep in tournaments – and if he can’t do that again he will retire, sadly.
Also, it’s still a pandemic. Doubt Fed has any plans to take his family on the road while that’s still on.
Fed’s family wasn’t with him also so it seems there was more to it as to why he did play the AO. I think he knew he wasn’t ready, not for a grand slam.
AM and Big AL: That didn’t go very well did it? AM looking down and up at each other!
Really difficult to predict at the moment. Didn’t go with Dom in Doha, he seems unreliable at the moment. Watch him win now! Think I went with an old reliable. Watch him lose!
Dubai duh! AM: We both picked Goffin to do well….ho hum…tee hee…
Hey hey hey M!…Yeah!…we both picked Goffin reallyyyy deep!…i even picked him to win!..hehe…i wonder if it will backfired to my face next sunday!..hehe🤣
I picked Opelka to go far but he hit over 20 unforced errors .
Just noticed, I had Bublik beating Bautista in Doha , must have been a mistake 🙂
Yeah very unpredictable esp the WTA. But I enjoy taking part.
Also joined the Game to Love bracket, they do fun predictions on Youtube
I like taking part too, it keeps my interest going as Andy now has more kids than GSs! 😉
I have no doubt we will keep on looking up & down at each other A LOT in the coming weeks & months M!…
On Thiem…yeah!…he’s so unreliable atm…u think is it bcoz of his foot problem @ pressure that got to him atm M?I think it’s both..
I like Dom so much, since seeing him at the O2 a lifetime away! The naughty boy shouldn’t be playing if his foot isn’t right!