<p>Roger Federer squandered a match point and was knocked out of the Qatar Open by Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili on Thursday in just his second match since a 13-month injury absence.</p>.<p>The 20-time Grand Slam title winner, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, secured the first set but eventually wilted and lost the quarter-final tie, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.</p>.<p>On Wednesday, the 39-year-old marked his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals in January 2020 by defeating Britain's Dan Evans, also in three sets.</p>.<p>"He's one of the greatest tennis players of all time," said world number 42 Basilashvili who will face Taylor Fritz of the United States for a place in the final.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/beaten-roger-federer-hopes-to-be-100-fit-for-wimbledon-960995.html" target="_blank">Beaten Roger Federer hopes to be '100%' fit for Wimbledon</a></strong></p>.<p>"I'm very happy that he's coming back and playing again. Of course to win against him it's a dream come true. He was an idol."</p>.<p>Basilashvili, who arrived at the Qatar Open with a 2-13 record since the resumption of the sport in August, managed two aces in a row in the second set, clearly unsettling the Swiss three-time Doha champion.</p>.<p>In the third set, Federer dug deep to clinch an epic seventh game, coming back from three break points to keep the contest alive.</p>.<p>But after saving a match point, the 29-year-old Basilashvili broke Federer's serve to go up 6-5, before serving out for a famous win.</p>
<p>Roger Federer squandered a match point and was knocked out of the Qatar Open by Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili on Thursday in just his second match since a 13-month injury absence.</p>.<p>The 20-time Grand Slam title winner, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, secured the first set but eventually wilted and lost the quarter-final tie, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.</p>.<p>On Wednesday, the 39-year-old marked his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals in January 2020 by defeating Britain's Dan Evans, also in three sets.</p>.<p>"He's one of the greatest tennis players of all time," said world number 42 Basilashvili who will face Taylor Fritz of the United States for a place in the final.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/beaten-roger-federer-hopes-to-be-100-fit-for-wimbledon-960995.html" target="_blank">Beaten Roger Federer hopes to be '100%' fit for Wimbledon</a></strong></p>.<p>"I'm very happy that he's coming back and playing again. Of course to win against him it's a dream come true. He was an idol."</p>.<p>Basilashvili, who arrived at the Qatar Open with a 2-13 record since the resumption of the sport in August, managed two aces in a row in the second set, clearly unsettling the Swiss three-time Doha champion.</p>.<p>In the third set, Federer dug deep to clinch an epic seventh game, coming back from three break points to keep the contest alive.</p>.<p>But after saving a match point, the 29-year-old Basilashvili broke Federer's serve to go up 6-5, before serving out for a famous win.</p>