Tennis great, Roger Federer, has lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open on Thursday, ending his sweet comeback from injury.
The 20-time grand slam champion had marked his return to the court after 14 months out with a knee problem with a victory against Britain’s Dan Evans in three sets on Wednesday.
But the 39-year-old was unable to secure a second win in as many days as Basilashvili completed a 3-6 6-1 7-5 victory.
Basilashvili who is currently ranked 42 in the world, saved a match point against a tired-looking Federer in the 10th game of the deciding set, before going on to break the Swiss opponent in the following game, seeing out victory in one hour and 50 minutes.
“It is unbelievable because he is one of the greatest of all time,” said Georgian Basilashvili, 29, following his last-eight triumph.
“To play him means so much to me”.
“I am very happy he came back to play, and to win against him is a dream come true. He was always my idol, and I am sure he is to many tennis players and fans, so I am unbelievably happy.”
Basilashvili will play Taylor Fritz for a place in the final in Doha following the American’s 5-7 6-3 7-5 win against Denis Shapovalov.
Sad but he’s a legend still
Eyah, I will forever love this guy
Sad for Federer man.