Nikoloz Basilashvili wins Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia defeated Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 7-6(5), 6-2 and secured the 29th Qatar ExxonMobil Open title on Saturday.
HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, accompanied by Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the tournament Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi and director of the tournament Karim Al Alami, crowned Nikoloz Basilashvili with the championship cup and Roberto Bautista Agut with the second-place cup.
World No. 42 did not face a breakpoint, as he powered through heavy winds to defeat Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(5), 6-2.
Basilashvili, who saved a match point to defeat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, has now won his past four ATP Tour championship matches (4-2), the ATP tour website reported.
Basilashvili entered the final with a 1-3 ATP Head2Head record against Bautista Agut, but he improved to 2-0 against the fifth seed on hard courts with his victory in the final. Both of the 29-year-old's wins against Bautista Agut have come in the Middle East.
Both players needed time to adjust to the windy condition yesterday.
The set was dominated by serve, but the opening six points of the tie-break were won by the returning player.
Basilashvili was rewarded for taking risks on his backhand side, as he punished short balls to strike winners and force his opponent into errors.
Basilashvili earned the first two breakpoints of the match at 3-2 in the second set, and he took his chance to close in on victory. The four-time ATP Tour titlist ripped two cross-court backhand winners to take a 4-2 lead and, two games later, he earned a second break to capture the title.
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Congrats ............. Well done .............