By Tennis Now | Sunday, October 7, 2018
Nikoloz Basilashvili swept top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro, 6-4, 6-4, in the Beijing final to claim his second career title.
Photo credit: China Open
Nikoloz Basilashvili is a convincing closer.
Basilashvili beat top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro, 6-4, 6-4, in the Beijing final to claim his second career title.
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It was Basilashvili's first Top 10 win since February, 2017 when he defeated eighth-ranked Dominic Thiem, 6-4, 6-4, in Sofia.
The 34th-ranked Georgian will eclipse his career-high rank of No. 31 when the new ATP rankings are released on Monday.
It is Basilashvili's second ATP 500 level title in the last three months following his maiden title when he played through qualifying to win Hamburg on red clay in July.
Basilashvili dropped his opening set of the tournament in a 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-2 triumph over sixth-seeded Jack Sock then tore through 10 consecutive sets to take the title.
The 26-year-old Basilashvili, who pushed world No. 1 Rafael Nadal to four sets in the US Open round of 16 last month, avenged his 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, loss to del Potro at the 2017 Beijing.
The man in the skull shirt showed mental strength saving all seven break points he faced in a 99-minute triumph.
Basilashvili won 15 of 24 points played on del Potro's second serve and broke twice.
US Open finalist del Potro reached his sixth final of the season when fourth-seeded Fabio Fognini conceded a walkover due to an ankle injury yesterday.
The 30-year-old Argentine lacked the energy to combat the hard-hitting baseliner. Basilashvili denied del Potro's bid for his 23rd career title and first championship since he out-dueled Roger Federer, 6-4, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (2), to win his first career Masters Series championship in Indian Wells in March.