Novak Djokovic secured a three-set comeback victory against Ugo Humbert, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Swiss Indoors Basel to reach the second round. Competing at the tournament for the first time since 2011, the Serb kept his hopes alive for a spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Return to Basel and the Battle Against Humbert
Novak Djokovic made his first appearance at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel since 2009–2011, when he participated in three editions and claimed the title in his opening visit. Facing off against Ugo Humbert on the indoor hard courts, the veteran competitor dropped a tightly contested opening set before righting his ship. Humbert, ranked No. 35 in the world, utilized a 71 percent first-serve percentage to seize the first frame 4-6. The French left-hander earned an early break and kept the former world No. 1 on the defensive early.
Djokovic adjusted his depth and re-established control in the second set. After saving two break points on his own serve, the 24-time Grand Slam champion secured a crucial break to build a 3-0 lead. Humbert required treatment from a physiotherapist for hip discomfort early in the second frame, which disrupted his momentum as Djokovic leveled the match by taking the set 6-3. Following a medical timeout and a visit to the locker room, Humbert continued to pressure the veteran in the decider. However, a decisive break in the fifth game of the final set allowed Djokovic to close out the match after two hours and 29 minutes.
Novak Djokovic, who needs a good week to get closer to Turin, comes back to beat Ugo Humbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the 2nd round in Basel.Great win against a dangerous player in these conditions (former Paris finalist, multiple indoor titles).Djokovic vs. Struff tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/17atumKQ9S
— https://x.com/josemorgado/status/2115501274959429655
Stakes in the Live Race to Turin
The opening-round victory in Switzerland carries immediate implications for the ATP Tour standings. Djokovic sits 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin with 2,890 points, chasing the qualification cutoff currently held by Spain’s Rafael Jódar at No. 9 with 3,209 points. With approximately 1,500 points remaining across the late-season indoor swing—including Basel, Vienna, and the Paris Masters—every match outcome impacts the final eight-man field for the tournament taking place from November 15 to November 22.
Djokovic explained his affinity for indoor conditions during this stage of his career, noting that cooler arenas help manage energy levels compared to extreme heat. Siempre me ha gustado jugar en indoor, y creo que especialmente ahora en esta etapa de mi carrera, con los problemas físicos que he tenido en los últimos años, jugar en condiciones de calor extremo no es lo que más me gusta,
Djokovic said in pre-tournament comments cited by MARCA. The victory also marked his 20th tour-level win of the year, extending a streak of reaching that milestone for the 21st season dating back to 2006.
Second-Round Matchup Against Jan-Lennard Struff
Advancing to the round of 16, Djokovic moves on to face Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Struff earned his spot in the second round by defeating compatriot Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-3, following a run to the final in Brussels the previous week.
Other matches on the Basel schedule saw Portuguese player Nuno Borges mount a comeback against Casper Ruud 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his fifth quarterfinals of the season. Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov defeated Swiss participant Remy Bertola 6-4, 6-2 to set up a second-round meeting against either sixth seed Taylor Fritz or lucky loser Rinky Hijikata.
Pure grit! 💪Djokovic advances to round 2 in Basel, on the hunt for his 103rd title in the open era 👀#SwissindoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/FYXtUv9CZh
— https://x.com/atptour/status/2115501673334681970
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