Georgian tennis player Basilashvili defeats Swiss legend Federer

Georgia’s top tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili has made history by defeating the 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

Basilashvili, 29, played 'with consistent aggression from the baseline' to rush Federer and earn a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory.

The global governing body of men’s professional tennis ATP reports that Basilashvili entered the tournament on a five-match losing streak but, with his first win against world No. 6 Roger Federer 'the 29-year-old is through to his first semi-final since the 2019 Hamburg European Open'.

It also says that Basilashvili 'played with all-out aggression on his backhand to turn the match decisively in his favour'.

The world No. 42, Basilashvili, will now face Taylor Fritz for a place in the championship match on March 13, Agenda.ge reported.