DISAPPOINTMENT! Stefanos Tsitsipas Bows Down to Nikoloz Basilashvili in a Three-Set Battle at Indian Wells 2021

Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had a decent US hard-court season, made it to the quarter-finals of Indian Wells Masters after defeating the likes of Fabio Fognini and Alex de Minaur.

In the last eight, the Greek faced Nikoloz Basilashvili. The duo faced each other twice on the ATP tour before and both these encounters were won by Tsitsipas.

Nikoloz Basilashvili stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas to take the first set, 6-4

Much to the surprise of Tsitsipas and his fans, Basilashvili managed to get the better off him in the first set. Even though both of them had break points to convert, Basilashvili targeted the Greek’s single-handed backhand on second serve and got out of trouble.

Oct 12, 2021; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) hits a shot against Fabio Fognini (ITA) during a third round match in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

On the other hand, Tsitsipas displayed moments of vulnerability on serve at crucial moments and lost his serve and the first set to the Georgian, 6-4.

Tsitsipas fought back in the second but gave up in the deciding third set against Basilashvili

The Greek displayed better composure in the second set and began to win more points from the baseline. Even though Basilashvili was maintaining the same intensity as he did in the previous set, Tsitsipas’ new found level became difficult to penetrate for the Georgian.

Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – June 28, 2021 Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in action during his first round match against Britain’s Andy Murray REUTERS/Paul Childs

Tsitsipas appeared to have found his groove and won the second set in an emphatic manner, 6-2. As the match progressed to a deciding third set, both players held their serves for the first six games.

However, it was the Greek who couldn’t sustain the pressure as he lost his serve to Basilashvili and allowed the latter to be just a game away from reaching his first-ever Masters 1000 semi-final.

Serving for the match at 5-4 in the decider, Basilashvili did no wrong as he sailed past Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the semis at the BNP Paribas Open. The Georgian will now await the winner of the quarter-final matchup between Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz.

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