Skip to content
BNP Paribas Open
  • Tickets
  • Visit
  • Scores & Schedules
  • News
Get tickets

Indian Wells, California

March 6 - 19, 2023

Get tickets
  • Tickets & Packages Toggle
    • Series Packages
    • Mini Packages
    • Travel Packages
    • Group Packages
    • Luxury Suites
    • My Tickets Account
  • News
  • Players
  • Scores, Draws, & Schedules Toggle
    • Order of Play
    • Results
    • Draws
    • Printable
  • Tournament Toggle
    • Competition Schedule
    • How to Watch
    • Venue ↗
    • History
    • Past Champions
    • Sustainability
  • Plan Your Visit Toggle
    • Dining
    • Shopping
    • On-Site Activities
    • Transportation/Parking
    • Official Event Mobile App
    • FAQS
  • Tennis Events Toggle
    • The Eisenhower Cup Presented by Masimo
    • FILA Junior Championships
    • UTR Dingles Championships
    • UTR College Match
  • Health and Safety
  • Get Involved Toggle
    • Volunteers
    • Ball Crew
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Partnerships Toggle
    • Partners
    • Partnership Opportunities
  • 2024 BNP Paribas Open
  • Contact
BNP Paribas Open Insider News
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
ATP

Basilashvili Bests Tsitsipas for Maiden Masters 1000 Semifinal Berth

Friday, October 15, 2021 - Nikoloz Basilashvili shakes hands with Stefanos Tsitsipas after their quarterfinals match on day 12 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Jared Wickerham/BNP Paribas Open)

by Jeff Donaldson
10/15/2021

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.

Friday, October 15, 2021 – Nikoloz Basilashvili and Stefanos Tsitsipas play in a quarterfinal match at Stadium 1 on day 12 of the 2021 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA. (Michael Cummo/BNP Paribas Open)

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.

Friday, October 15, 2021 – Nikoloz Basilashvili and Stefanos Tsitsipas play in a quarterfinal match at Stadium 1 on day 12 of the 2021 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA. (Michael Cummo/BNP Paribas Open)

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.

Nikoloz BasilashviliStefanos Tsitsipas
  • Share it with facebook
  • Share it with twitter
  • Share it with email
Popular news
  • Sunday, March 19, 2023 - Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning a match against Daniil Medvedev during the ATP Final of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Jared Wickerham/BNP Paribas Open) 03/19/2023 ATP Championship: Alcaraz Powers Past Medvedev For BNP Paribas Open Crown and No. 1 Ranking
  • 03/20/2023 WATCH: The Story Of The 2023 BNP Paribas Open
  • 03/19/2023 Ten Takeaways From Tennis Paradise: Final Thoughts On The 2023 BNP Paribas Open
  • 03/19/2023 WTA Title Recap: Rybakina Gets The Best Of Sabalenka To Win Maiden BNP Paribas Open Championship
  • 03/19/2023 WATCH: Elena Rybakina’s BNP Paribas Open Championship Moment
Recent news
  • 03/20/2023 WATCH: The Story Of The 2023 BNP Paribas Open
  • 03/19/2023 WATCH: Carlos Alcaraz 2023 BNP Paribas Open Championship Moment
  • 03/19/2023 Carlos Alcaraz – Sunday, March 19, 2023
  • 03/19/2023 Daniil Medvedev – Sunday, March 19, 2023
  • 03/19/2023 Ten Takeaways From Tennis Paradise: Final Thoughts On The 2023 BNP Paribas Open

Post navigation

PreviousOns Jabeur In-Depth: ‘Why Not No. 1 in the World?’
NextPlayers Love Tennis Paradise
  • bnp logo
  • penn logo
  • fila logo
  • IW logo
  • emirates logo
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Partnerships
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy Rights
© 2023 BNP Paribas Open a Desert Champions LLC Event
Close
Get the latest updates
Get the latest updates from Tennis Paradise
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Subscribe