Nikoloz Basilashvili calls out Doha’s wild card snub: ‘I Won’t ever return’

Former Doha champion Nikoloz Basilashvili discovered himself on the surface trying in because the match denied him a wild card, even for the qualifying draw! The Georgian lifted a golden eagle in 2021 and performed within the last a 12 months later, and the choice left him heartbroken. 

Doha is the ATP 500 occasion from this season, and the organizers are centered on the top-tier gamers. Nevertheless, they gave the main-draw invites to Hady Habib, Aziz Dougaz and Abdullah Shelbayh, specializing in geography as a substitute of match historical past. 

To make issues even worse for Basilashvili, three lower-ranked gamers earned an opportunity to compete within the qualifying draw. Daniel Merida, Ergi Kirkin and Mubarak Shannan Zayid earned invites, whereas the previous champion stood one spot beneath the entry record!

No extra Doha for Nikoloz Basilashvili ever. pic.twitter.com/cUNvuAwdXR

— LaWanda (@lawanda50) February 15, 2025

After narrowly lacking the minimize, the Georgian admitted this snub harm greater than most, expressing his disappointment and lamenting over an absence of widespread sense. Regardless of cherishing reminiscences in Qatar, he made a daring declaration, promising by no means to compete in Doha once more!

Nikoloz Basilashvili, Doha 2021© Stream screenshot

 

Basilashvili debuted in Doha as world no. 171 in 2015. The Georgian handed three qualifying rounds and ousted Mikhail Youzhny earlier than falling to Ivo Karlovic. 4 years later, Nikoloz returned to Doha as world no. 21!

He pushed Novak Djokovic to the boundaries earlier than falling in three units. Two years later, Basilashvili toppled Roger Federer, Taylor Fritz and Roberto Bautista Agut en path to the trophy! Federer performed his comeback match and fell to the Georgian 3-6, 6-1, 7-5. 

Nikoloz Basilashvili, Doha 2021© Stream screenshot

 

Nikoloz recovered after the opening set and dominated set quantity two. He denied a match level within the tenth recreation of the decider and grabbed a break at 15 within the subsequent one earlier than touchdown a backhand crosscourt winner at 6-5 for a career-best win.

Basilashvili toppled Bautista Agut 7-6, 6-2 within the title conflict to raise a trophy. The 2 rivals met in one other title conflict a 12 months later, with the Spaniard serving revenge and dethroning the Georgian. Nikoloz ought to have obtained at least the qualifying wild card at this 12 months’s occasion. 

Nevertheless, the organizers forgot about him, which triggered the previous champion frustration and disappointment. The previous world no. 16 is at the moment ranked 148th. He certified for the Australian Open principal draw and reached the Montpellier quarter-final.

After lacking subsequent week’s occasion, Nikoloz will attempt to enter the qualifying draw at one other ATP 500 match in Dubai.