Basilashvili upsets Del Potro to win China Open

Nikoloz Basilashvili will rise to the brink of the top 20 after winning his second ATP 500 title of the year in Beijing.

The Georgian, who also won on clay in Hamburg in July, beat an illness-affected Juan Martin del Potro 6-4 6-4 in an absorbing clash under lights on the tournament’s Diamond Court.

Ranked 82nd in July, Basilashvili is projected to rise to a career-high ranking of No.23 come Monday.

“I was in a really good shape coming up to this tournament. I’m really feeling well on court,” Basilashvili said.

“Playing against Juan, he was sick today for sure, I could see that. But he put me in really tough situations. I need to really work it, to work hard, win the points.

“In general I really enjoyed this match. To win title here in Beijing means a lot. It’s one of the best tournaments here, and very tough tournament. So really happy.”

Third time the charm! Basilashvili convert his third match point against Del Potro (6-4,6-4), after saving two break points, and wins the title!! Incredible week from Nikoloz! His second ATP 500 title this season after Hamburg. #Respect pic.twitter.com/EEgLfCrV0u

— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 7, 2018

It was clear from the outset that Del Potro, the No.1 seed, was out of sorts. He misfired shots in between bouts of coughing and was quickly down 3-1.

One break was all Basilashvili needed; he maintained the ascendency for the remainder of the set to move to within one set of the trophy.

However, even if Del Potro had been healthy, Basilashvili would have proven a tough opponent to unseat.

“As you can see, my game of today wasn’t good as it was the last matches in the tournament. I had some problem the last three days, and it was affect a little bit to my game,” Del Potro said.

“But Nikoloz played unbelievable. He played a really strong game. Hopefully I can feel better for Shanghai.”

Basilashvili moved exceptionally and produced a breathtaking level of ball striking; he finished the match with 18 forehand winners to Del Potro’s three.

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The second set was a tighter affair; Del Potro looked vulnerable every time Basilashvili got him on the move, yet the Georgian was tightening up slightly, producing more errors from the ground as well as a sprinkling of double faults.

The clincher was a dramatic eighth game. Del Potro earned three break points but could not suppress the 26-year-old, who went on to hold for 4-4 and then broke the deflated Argentine in the very next game.

Serving for the match, Basilashvili saw a 40-15 lead evaporate thanks to three straight errors, but he saved two break points – one with a forehand winner on the line that Del Potro unsuccessfully challenged.

He converted his third match point with a swinging backhand volley winner.

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The Georgian came close to defeat in the opening round against sixth seed Jack Sock, but escaped with a 6-7(6) 7-5 6-2 win. And for the rest of the week he did not drop a set, ousting Fernando Verdasco, Malek Jaziri and No.5 seed Kyle Edmund en route to the final.

He saved all seven break points he faced against Del Potro, who at world No.4 is the highest-ranked player he has beaten in 2018.

“In general, I really believed in myself. I always believed in myself. On practices I could show really high level of tennis, which I could not do it on the matches. Yeah, lately I’ve been balancing these things really well,” he s

“Together we (my coach Jan and I) find really good this kind of balance, that I could use my weapons what I have on court. So far I’ve been playing good.

“(Now) just looking forward. I’m going to take step by step now, match by match, so we will see.”