Basilashvili Caps a Dream Week with Qatar Exxonmobil Open Title Georgian Tops Soaniard Agut in Straight Sets
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Al Gharafa win Amir Cup basketball title, complete domestic treble PAGE 14 SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 Basilashvili caps a dream week with Qatar ExxonMobil Open title Georgian tops Soaniard Agut in straight sets TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA NIKOLOZ Basilashvili entered the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021 with just two wins from his past 16 matches, but the Georgian found his best level in Doha to clinch his fourth ATP Tour title at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Saturday. The effort saw Basilashvili win the Falcon Trophy besides $103,070 and 250 ATP points. The World No. 42 did not face a break point, as he pow- ered through heavy winds on Saturday to defeat Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(5), 6-2. Basi- lashvili, who saved a match point to defeat Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, has now won his past four ATP Tour championship matches (4-2). “I am somehow managing to play good in tougher condi- tions and tougher matches,” said Basilashvili. “This tournament was one of the toughest ATP 250s I have ever seen, probably. We had three Top 10 players. It is interesting [to ask] why I am playing good in the big tourna- ments and big matches. (It is) surprising. At the same time, (I am) happy.” Basilashvili entered the Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia (left) and Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut – the singles winner and runners-up of Qatar Exxomobil Open 2021 with thei trophies at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in final with a 1-3 ATP Head- Doha on Saturday evening. 2Head record against Bautista Agut, but he improved to 2-0 somehow found a way to deal ond break to capture the title. the ATP 250, dating back to against the fifth seed on hard with the stressful moments. I Sheer delight “[There were] very strong the start of his title run in 2019. courts with his victory in the am very happy to get through gusts today, but I had good Bautista Agut defeated top final. Both of the 29-year-old’s [to the title].” This tournament was mindset. From the beginning, seed Dominic Thiem and third wins against Bautista Agut In windy conditions on one of the toughest ATP I was accepting things very seed Andrey Rublev in back- have come in the Middle East. Centre Court, both players 250s I have ever seen, good,” said Basilashvili. “I was to-back matches to reach his Basilashvili also defeated the needed time to adjust to the probably. We had three concentrated on just playing 18th tour-level final (9-9). Spaniard in Dubai in 2019. conditions. Top 10 players. I am the game and just looking at “I don’t like to lose. I think I “[I am] super happy. I was The set was dominated super happy. I was not the ball and moving a lot. It could have played a better but, not expecting that but, at the by serve, but the opening six expecting that but, at was tough physically, as well, today, it was his final.I want to same time, I was working a points of the tie-break were because for sure you have to congratulate Basilashvili,” Bau- lot,” said Basilashvili. won by the returning player. the same time, I was move twice as hard and I man- tista Agut said in an on-court “I was feeling good on the Basilashvili was rewarded working a lot. aged that.” interview. “He played great. He court. I was playing the last for taking risks on his backhand Bautista Agut was attempt- played very aggressive. Now it is half a year with a lot of stress side, as he punished short balls Nikoloz Basilashvili ing to lift his 10th ATP Tour time to recover, to keep working, in my body. I was not able to to strike winners and force his and he took his chance to close cross-court backhand winners title. The 32-year-old entered to keep improving and hopefully put 100 per cent on the court opponent into errors. first two break points of the in on victory. The four-time to take a 4-2 lead and, two the championship match on a I can come back next year and in any matches. This week, I Basilashvili earned the match at 3-2 in the second set, ATP Tour titlist ripped two games later, he earned a sec- nine-match winning streak at try to get the title again.” Russians Rublev, Karatsev claim Coach Sanchez picks Qatar doubles title without dropping a set squad for European qualifiers QFA AGENCIES DOHA Qatar national DOHA football team COACH Felix Sanchez has coach Felix ASLAN Karatsev and Andrey named a squad of 28 play- Sanchez. Rublev have made waves on ers who will be travelling to the singles court in recent Hungary for Qatar’s European months. But on Friday even- qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA ing at the Khalifa Internation- World Cup. al Tennis & Squash Complex The squad will start train- in Doha, they claimed a dou- ing at the Aspire Academy fol- bles title together. lowing the conclusion of the The Russian ATP Cup team- 19th round of the QNB Stars mates defeated in-form doubles League matches before flying pair Marcus Daniell and Philipp out for Hungary on March 20. Oswald 7-5, 6-4 to win the Qa- The Asian champions will tar ExxonMobil Open after one join Group A – alongside UEFA take on Luxembourg in their second match will be against hour and 21 minutes. Euro 2016 winners Portugal, firstmatch on March 24. The Azerbaijan on March 27. “It’s only my second [dou- Serbia, Republic of Ireland, bles] title, so it’s a great feel- Luxembourg, and Azerbaijan. ing,” Rublev said. “We’ll see Qatar will play their The Squad how I’m going to do in Dubai. ‘home’ fixtures on Europe- Pedro Miguel, Salem Al Hajri, Tariq Salman, Abdelkarim Now I’m focussed on next Aslan Karatsev (left) and Andrey Rublev of Russia with their doubles trophies at the Khalifa International an soil in order to facilitate Hassan, Boualam Khokhi, Hassan Al Haydos, Youssef week and I hope I can show Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha on Friday evening. shorter travel times for their good tennis there.” group opponents. Abdelrazzaq, Ahmed Suhail, Musab Khader and Muhammad Karatsev and Rublev had “It feels great. It’s my first of the five break points they 250, where they beat reigning As the FIFA World Cup Waad (Al Sadd). Salah Zakaria, Bassam Al Rawi, Asim Madibu, never played a tournament ATP title, so it’s an unbeliev- faced in the final. Australian Open champions 2022 host nation, Qatar has together before this ATP 250. able feeling,” Karatsev said. Rublev and Karatsev will Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek as already qualified for the tour- Mu`zahin, Karim Boudiaf, Ismail Muhammad, Muhammad They competed as a duo in one “It’s great to play with Andrey each depart Doha with 250 well as top seeds Juan Sebas- nament. Though Qatar au- Muntari, and Abdullah Abd al-Salam (Al Duhail). Ahmed Ala Al match at the ATP Cup, losing Rublev.” FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings tian Cabal and Robert Farah. tomatically qualify being the Din, Humam Al Amin, Muayyad Hassan and Tamim Al Muhaizeh in straight sets. The unseeded The Russians, who also points and a share of $38,470. Last year’s Sardinia hosts but are taking part in pair had no such difficulties defeated fourth seeds Marcelo Daniell and Oswald did not champions add 150 points to the qualifying to get match (Al Gharafa) Ahmed Fathi and Mahmoud Abu Nada (Al Arabi) this week, surging to the title Melo and Jean-Julien Rojer en win the title, but they enjoyed their tally and they will split practice in the lead up to the Abdul Aziz Hatem (Al Rayyan) Khaled Munir (Al Wakrah). without dropping a set. route to the trophy, saved four a tremendous run at this ATP $27,550. 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar Sports Sunday, March 14, 2021 13 Gutsy Fichardt hits the front at Qatar Masters AGENCIES DOHA DARREN Fichardt used all of his experience in very difficult windy conditions to card a 70 and open up a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2021 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at the Education City Golf Club on Saturday. The South African won this event in 2003 and has racked India’s Bhullar in up four other victories in his 398 European Tour appear- ances before this week at Edu- contention; Sharma cation City Golf Club. Leaderboard (Top 10) The venue may be a little Pos Player Score R1 R2 R3 R4 Total also makes cut further in land than Doha Golf 1. DARREN FICHARDT (RSA) -7 68 68 70 - - Club where Fichardt lifted 2. JACK SENIOR (ENG) -6 68 68 71 - - TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Sharma birdied second the Mother of Pearl trophy 18 3. GAGANJEET BHULLAR (IND) -5 67 73 68 - - DOHA but triple bogeyed seventh. He years ago, but the windy con- 4. ANTOINE ROZNER (FRA) -4 69 72 68 - - dropped three more bogeys ditions are similar and the 45- INDIa’S Gaganjeet Bhullar but also birdied 14th for his 75. 5. JAMIE DONALDSON (WAL) -4 68 68 73 - - year old moved to seven under stayed steady despite gusty “I had a good start to the to lead the way by one shot 6. JOACHIM B. HANSEN (DEN) -4 66 71 72 - - conditions at the Education tournament, 4- under 67 on from England’s Jack Senior, 7.