Borna Ćorić has advanced to the semi-final of the Dubai Open after defeating Georgian tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili in three sets.
Borna Ćorić is in the semifinals of the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai, after winning his third match of the tournament in a tie-break in the third set! Ćorić’s new victim was Georgian tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili. Ćorić celebrated 4:6, 6:2, 7:6 (1), reports Gol.hr on February 28, 2019.
Just like against Jiří Veselý and Tomas Berdych, Borna had to play the tie-break in the decisive set to win the match. This was also the second game of the tournament where the Croatian player had to come back from behind.
Ćorić was weaker in the first set, with too many unforced errors, which gave the win to Basilashvili. Ćorić played far better in the second and led 5: 0. Basilashvili took two games, but after that, Ćorić had a break and took the game to the third set
Ćorić brilliantly began the third set and led 4:1, but 15 minutes later, with a 4:4 result, he rescued a break. While he succeeded in that, Ćorić then missed a chance to conclude the match in the 12th game.
Ćorić ultimately took the initiative and thoroughly outplayed the excellent Basilaville to advance to the semi-final.
Friday’s Dubai Open semifinal will see Ćorić meet against the great Roger Federer, who was slightly better than Hungarian Marton Fucsovics with a score of 7:6, 6:4.
Ćorić and Federer have met four times in total, with the players securing two wins each. Recall, Ćorić was better than Federer twice last year, defeating him in the semifinal of the ATP Shanghai and the final in Halle.
The first career match between the two was played four years ago in Dubai where Federer celebrated with 6:2, 6:1. Federer also defeated Ćorić in early 2018 in Indian Wells.
Ćorić and Federer will meet on Friday at 4 pm Croatia time.
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