Teymuraz Besikovich Gabashvili (Russian: Теймураз Бесикович Габашвили, IPA:[tɛɪ̯mʊˈrazɡəbɐˈʂvʲilʲɪ]; born 23 May 1985) is a Russian-Georgian former professional tennis player. He has a career-high singles ranking of World No. 43 achieved on 1 February 2016. He has reached the fourth round of the 2010 and 2015French Open.
On 18 November 2021, Gabashvili was banned from competition for 20 months after testing positive for furosemide.[1][2]
Tennis career
2001–2002: Juniors
As a junior Gabashvili posted a singles win–loss record of 38–34 (47–29 in doubles) and reached as high as no. 33 in the junior world singles rankings (and no. 40 in doubles) in January 2002.
Junior Slam results:
Australian Open: 3R (2002)
French Open: 1R (2001, 2002)
Wimbledon: 1R (2002)
US Open: 2R (2001)
2003–2006: ATP debut
Gabashvili made his ATP tour debut in 2004 in Båstad, where he lost to Olivier Patience of France.
In the first round of the 2007 US Open, Gabashvili defeated World No. 7 Fernando González in five sets. In the fourth set, Gabashvili served for the match at 5–4, but hit three consecutive double faults. He lost the game and the set, but came back in the fifth and final set to win the match.[3]
2008 proved to be unimpressive for Gabashvili as he lost in the first round of his first four tournaments before breaking his right wrist, effectively ending his season.
In the third round of the 2010 French Open, he beat Andy Roddick in straight sets. However, he was beaten in the fourth round by Austria's Jürgen Melzer in four sets.
At the 2010 US Open, Gabashvili played World No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the first round, and lost.
2011: Silver medalist at Summer Universiade
Gabashvili represented his country at the 2011 Summer Universiade held in Shenzhen and won a silver medal. Despite being ranked below the top 100 in the ATP rankings, Gabashvili was still by far the highest-ranked player in the singles draw, and was thus a favorite to win Gold. He advanced all the way to the singles final without dropping a set before suffering a surprising defeat at the hands of Lim Yong-Kyu, a member of South Korea's Davis Cup team.
2012–2016: Second French Open fourth round, Top 50 debut and career-high ranking
At the 2015 Citi Open, Gabashvili upset two time Grand Slam champion and world No. 3 Andy Murray in the second round in three tight sets to claim only his fourth ever win against a Top 10 player,[5] however he lost to Ričardas Berankis in the next round in two sets.
He finished the year 2015 ranked World No. 50 for the first time in his career. On 1 February 2016, he achieved his highest career singles ranking of World No. 43.
2021–2024: 20 months ban from competition, comeback
In November 2021, he was banned for 20 months from competing for doping. He was ranked No. 270 on 15 November 2021.[6] He returned to the ITF Tour in August 2023.
Personal life
Gabashvili speaks Russian, Georgian, Spanish and English. He has a daughter Nicole.[7]
In July 2010, Gabashvili changed the spelling of his given name with the ATP World Tour from Teimuraz to Teymuraz.[8]
On 18 November 2021, Gabashvili was banned from competition for 20 months after testing positive for furosemide.[1][2]