In a sensational victory, Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated the active tennis legend Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the international tournament Qatar Open, taking place in Doha. Basilashvili overcame the 20-time Grand Slam winner 3-6 6-1 7-5.
After losing the first set (3: 6), the 29-year-old Georgian tennis player won the second one by 6: 1, Basilashvili saved a match point before going on to beat currently the number 6 player in the world. The final victory for Basilashvili, number 42, came in the twelfth game.
This is Federer’s first time in the tournament after a 14-month-long recovery from a knee injury.
Basilashvili, who said that winning against Federer for him was “a dream come true,” will face 23-year-old Taylor Fritz, world rank 33, on Friday.
By Nini Dakhundaridze
