Basilashvili experiences health scare with difficulty breathing during ATP Cup match

Nikoloz Basilashvili played a match against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sydney in the Greece - Georgia rubber but play was halted when the Georgian experienced breathing issues.

Dramatic scenes unfolded at Sydney’s ATP Cup on Wednesday night when Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashivili began struggling to breathe early in his match with World No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, forcing play to be cancelled. Tsitsipas led four games to one in the first set when play was brought to an abrupt halt at Team Georgia’s request.

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A doctor and physiotherapist attended to a visibly rattled Basilashvili, who sat courtside with his Georgian teammates. In the broadcast of the game, Basilashvili could be heard telling his team “every shot I’m out of breath”. Soon afterward, he repeatedly told medical staff he was “struggling to breathe”.

Basilashvili was not hobbled as medical staff assisted him from the court, but did appear shaken. When he returned from the dressing rooms, play was called off and the match was awarded to Tsitsipas and Team Greece.