Qatar Open: Roger Federer lost in second match after returning from injury

Roger Federer captured a match point and was knocked out of the Qatar Open by Nicoloz Basilashvili of Georgia on Thursday in just the second match since his 13-month injury absence. The 20-time Grand Slam title winner, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, secured the first set, but ultimately won and lost the quarter-final tie, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5. On Wednesday, the 39-year-old made his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January 2020, defeating Britain’s Dan Evans in three sets.

World number 42 Bailashvili said, “He is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, who will take on America’s Taylor Fritz for a place in the finals.”

“I am very happy that he is coming back and playing again. Of course winning against him is a dream come true. He was an idol.”

Basilashvili, who arrived at the Qatar Open with a 2–13 record since the game resumed in August, overtook the two-time Swiss Doha champion by scoring two consecutive goals in the second set.

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In the third set, Federer dug deep to achieve an epic seventh game, coming back from three break points to maintain the contest.

But after saving the match points, 29-year-old Basilashvili broke Federer’s serve to extend the lead to 6-5 before securing the famous victory.