Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Top 10 tennis player for the first time in his career.
In 1/16 final of Austrian Erste Bank Open 500 Basilashvili (107th) defeated Czech Tomas Berdych 6:4, 6:7, 7:5. The meeting lasted for 2 hours and 36 minutes. In the first set Nika made one break and promoted.
In the second round the Georgian tennis player had 5 break-points but could not use it and the Czech had none, accordingly the set came to tie-break, which ended up with the victory of Tomas 7:5.
One of the decisive moments of the match was on 5:5, when Basilashili served but Berdych had advantage. On Basilashvili’s shot the line referee shouted out, the Georgian demanded “Challenge” and computing repetition fixed that the ball touched the line and then the Georgian promoted 6:5. Berdych tried to transfer the meeting to tie-break, but he could not. Basilashvili attacked and gained a historic victory.
Nika earned 45 ranking points by making through to 1/8 final and in case of ¼ final he will get 90 ranking points. In 1/8 final, Basilashvili will face Russian Karen Khachanov. The match will take place on October 27, 13:00 Tbilisi time, but the time may change.
