Basilashvili Bests Tsitsipas for Maiden Masters 1000 Semifinal Berth

Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili is through to his maiden Masters 1000 semifinal, upsetting No. 2 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas at the BNP Paribas Open, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in Friday’s first men’s singles quarterfinal.

“I always thought that here the conditions don’t suit my game,” admitted the No. 29, who has never been able to score a win in three previous main-draw appearences at this event. “This year? I don’t know. I think I’m just playing good.”

Well, that’s an understatement.

Basilashvili came out of the gates firing against Tsitsipas, against whom he owned a 0-2 record but had pushed hard in those previous two encounters. He sprinted to a double break lead in the blink of an eye as Tsitsipas, who has struggled with a cold this week in the Palm Desert, appeared to be a step slow.

Though the Greek was able to earn one of the breaks back, a near-perfect game from Basilashvili sealed the first set for the Georgian, striking two volcanic groundstroke winners – one off the forehand and one off the backhand – that rocketed into the corners of the court to give him the one-set lead.

Tsitsipas was able to tap into a higher level in the second set. Unwilling to be brushed aside against a player he had never lost to before, the World No. 3 upped his energy, sprinting to the net to finish points off with sublime volleys and defending with fortitude as his lemon-meringue locks bounced with each step in the midday desert sun.

After rebounding to win the second set 6-2, Tsitsipas got off to a lethargic start in the third, dropping serve in the opening game as his normally clairvoyant focus wavered. Basilashvili, with his signature ice-cold demeanour contrasting the firepower of his ball striking, kept his composure though a few games later after getting broken back.

Making one last surge for a break in the ever-crucial seventh game of the set, the Georgian was rewarded and moved ahead to 5-3, a game away from his first win over a Top 3 player. Though Tsitsipas, the Top 3 player in question, would hold to force Basilashvili to serve for it – the latter was up to the task, closing out the win after two hours and 11 minutes of dramatic tennis on Stadium 1.