TennisSection previews the 2022 Qatar Open as Arthur Rinderknech takes on Nikoloz Basilashvili in the semifinal on Friday, February 18th, 2022.
Arthur Rinderknech and Nikoloz Basilashvili have defied the odds to reach the last four of the Qatar Open. Will the Frenchman reach his second career final? Or will Basilashvili return to defend his crown in a couple of days’ time?
Arthur Rinderknech needed to achieve a rare feat on Thursday to advance into the semifinals of the Qatar Open. The Frenchman needed to score a third Top 20 win of his career to book a meeting against the defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili. And Rinderknech did just that as he upset the top seed and World No. 12 Denis Shapovalov. The Frenchman is performing well above expectations in his first tournament back from wrist injury. He saved all three break points he faced on his serve and broke the Canadian once in each set to progress.
Nikoloz Basilashvili, meanwhile, is making a real statement of intent with each match win this week. The defending champion of the Qatar Open had arrived in Doha without a single win on the ATP Tour in 2022. But there is something so peculiar about the Georgian. You simply cannot write him off even in the most strikingly of bad forms. Basilashvili has found something close to his best form although he has looked beatable at times. And given how Rinderknech dealt with Shapovalov’s power, he could easily absorb Basilashvili’s pacey ground strokes.
Nikoloz Basilashvili leads Arthur Rinderknech 1-0 in their head-to-head. The Georgian won the pair’s meeting on the grass courts of Halle last season. Basilashvili has found form just when he needed it most. He is still not out of the woods yet considering he has to defend his 250 points by winning the Qatar Open title on Saturday. I am torn between having to pick against the Georgian or the Frenchman. That victory over Fucsovics would do wonders for Basilashvili’s confidence. I still think Basilashvili’s A-game is good enough to trump Rinderknech who could have feasibly lost his first-round match to Vesely.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Nikoloz Basilashvili in 3 sets.
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