"I'm at the top of my game now" says Basilashvili after reaching maiden ATP 1000 final

The biggest match of his career went his way but for Nikoloz Basilashvili this was far from a clean game. He did a lot of damage with his power from the baseline but a 26 winner to 32 unforced error ratio does not look very good on paper. Even so, it proved more than enough to overcome Fritz who did not play badly except when he needed to play his best.

An abysmal 0/7 on break points out of which 3 were set points ultimately cost him and swung the momentum completely into Basilashvili's favour. On reaching the final, Nikoloz said:

“It means a lot [to make my first Masters 1000 final] especially at Indian Wells, which people call it like a fifth Grand Slam… to get through so many matches is very important. I’m at the top of my game now and feeling the best."

The win was very good for Basilashvili considering the circumstances and the Georgian admitted to feeling a bit nervous:

“This was my first time in a Masters 1000 semi-final so I was a little bit tight. I just tried to get rid of [the tension] as much as I could because if I just focus on my game I can play good tennis.”

In the end he pulled through but it won't get easier tomorrow when he faces Cameron Norrie. They played once this year and Norrie won that match. On Norrie he said:

"He’s very uncomfortable to play and he’s in really good shape right now. He’s playing a very interesting game.”