Taylor Fritz vs Nikoloz Basilashvili Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Qatar Open

Prediction published on 11/03/2021, 17:40  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 11/03/2021 at 18:40 in Tennis Predictions

Just as in Dubai, we are guaranteed an unseeded player in the final of this tournament. Taylor Fritz takes on Nikoloz Basilashvili for a place in the final where either Andrey Rublev or Roberto Bautista Agut will be waiting for them. Fritz is the world number 33 and his one ATP tour win was at the Eastbourne Grass Championships in England two years ago.  Last year saw him lose to Rafael Nadal in the final of an event in Acupulco. This is only his third tournament of the year. He reached the last 16 of a tournament in Melbourne, losing to Jeremy Chardy. Then in the Australian Open, Fritz lost to Novak Djokovic in round three but did take a set off the eventual winner. This week, Fritz has beaten two seeds to get to the last four. He beat recent tournament winner David Goffin and in the last eight got a win over Denis Shapovalov, both being three set matches.

He takes on Nikoloz Basilashvili who beat Roger Federer in his quarter final on Thursday. He's ranked nine places below his opponent but should be in the top 40 next week (makes him sound like a hit record). 2020 saw him win just four out of 17 singles matches. He began 2021 with a quarter final in Antalya but then lost in the first round of four tournaments, all against players ranked below him. He wasn't thinking of beating Roger Federer when losing to world number 188 Mario Villela Martinez in a Melbourne tournament.  This week nearly saw him lose to John Millman in the first round. Then in the quarters he came from behind to beat Roger Federer. How will he react to that win?  Fritz is in good form, back him to bring his opponent back to earth.