BNP PARIBAS OPEN

October 17, 2021

Nikoloz Basilashvili

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/N. Basilashvili

3-6, 6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you explain what happened in the final set? The first two were pretty close. Cam ran away with the final set.

NIKOLOZ BASILASHVILI: I played -- I don't know. I was very tight. I had some problems, health problems, in the third set. I tried to go out, take a breath a bit, but I could not recover. I had it already little bit on previous matches, but now it was too severe in the third set.

I did not have anything left. I will not say what it is because I don't want to say, but I did not felt good. But I think Cameron, that he came back in the second set, he deserves it. He was very tough mentally. I could not find in second set how to beat him. At some point he was playing very flat backhand, very good spin forehand. I had to put a lot of energy, and I could not, to the shot.

But it's okay, yeah.

Q. What will you take away from these two weeks?

NIKOLOZ BASILASHVILI: Many things. Experience. I can play good tennis. I was winning set and break. I was on top of him. Then, I don't know...

I'm playing good. I mean, I'm just going to continue what I'm doing, keep working how I'm working right now. Again, my game is there. I can play good tennis. I will take just experience. It will help me a lot for the next upcoming tournaments.