(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Chinthana Wasala |
The Peninsula
Doha: Roberto Bautista Agut will look to avenge his last year's defeat to Nikoloz Basilashvili as the two will clash again in the final of the ATP Qatar ExxonMobil Open, today.
The Spaniard yesterday booked a rematch against defending champion Basilashvili with a brilliant win over the sixth seed Karen Khachanov 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 at the floodlit Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
It will be the third Doha final for Bautista Agut in four years.
In the second semi-final last night, Bautista Agut overcame the Russian in two hours and 26 minutes as the World No: 16 raised his score to 6-2 against Khachanov in their ATP Head2Head series.
“He [Khachanov] was playing very fast. He was playing very solidly, he was defending very well and he hit many unbelievable passing shots. I had to play incredibly well tonight. I enjoyed tonight so much,” the Spaniard said after the win.
Nikoloz Basilashvili in action during yesterday's semi-final.
Despite going down in the first set, the second seed found his range as the match went on with the key turning point coming in the third game of the second set, when he fended off seven break points in a mammoth game to hold.
From there, Bautista Agut raised his level deep in the third set, breaking at 5-5 with a powerful smash, before holding to seal his win.
The 33-year-old lost just three games in his opening two matches in which he defeated the former World No:1 Andy Murray and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Bautista Agut and Basilashvili have met on five earlier occasions, with the 2021 Doha finale being the last.
The Spaniard, who has a 3-2 record against Basilashvili, said he has a lot of respect for the Georgian.“He is a very good player. He beat me in the finals last year and, well, I want to say thanks. I want to enjoy the win tonight and I will see you all tomorrow,” Bautista Agut said.
Earlier, Basilashvili continued his impressive show at the Doha courts with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.
The Georgian lifted the trophy in Doha last season, defeating evergreen Roger Federer on his way to the final.
He broke Rinderknech three times to end the World No. 61's run to book the meeting against Bautista Agut.
“I am feeling great,” Basilashvili said.
“I really like playing in Doha. I see the ball really well here and physically I feel much better than previous matches. The final will be a tough match,” Basilashvili, who is aiming to win his sixth tour-level title this week, said.
Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski celebrate with the trophies after winning the doubles title.
Koolhof, Skupski clinch doubles title
Earlier, Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski sealed the doubles title after defeating Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov 7-6(4), 6-1. The Dutch-British pair dropped just one set en route to the championship match and played with confidence throughout against Bopanna and Shapovalov to wrap up the win in 78 minutes.
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