Novak Djokovic has secured a last-minute wild card to compete at the Swiss Indoors Basel, returning to the tournament for the first time in 15 years, Blick reported on Friday.
A Return to St. Jakobshalle After Fifteen Years
Tournament organizers secured the late addition of the 24-time Grand Slam champion to the ATP 500 event, which runs from October 24 to November 1. Management confirmed to Blick that the 39-year-old Serb accepted the invitation “shortly and very happily.” Djokovic last appeared at the St. Jakobshalle in 2011. During his previous three appearances from 2009 to 2011, he reached one semifinal and contested two finals against Roger Federer, winning the 2009 title in a three-set encounter.
Chasing Ranking Points and the Turin Finals
Currently ranked eighth in the world, Djokovic sits at No. 11 in the Race to Turin standings for the season-ending ATP Finals. The tournament in Basel offers 500 ranking points to the champion, providing the player a vital opportunity to bolster his qualification campaign during the autumn indoor swing. Tournament director Roger Brennwald told the Basler Zeitung, as cited by 20 Minuten: “When the most successful tennis player in history knocks, you have to make it possible.”
Novak Djokovic to play ATP500 Swiss Indoors in Basel.
Historical Parity with Roger Federer in Sight
Djokovic enters the Basel draw fresh off a title victory at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing, where he benefited from the retirement of Alex de Minaur in the final, 20 Minuten reported. That victory marked the 102nd title of his career. A triumph at the Swiss Indoors would bring his career total to 103 titles, allowing him to equal Roger Federer’s historical mark.
Wild Card Status Protects Swiss Entries
Because Djokovic qualifies for an “A+ wild card” reserved for elite players added on short notice, his entry does not consume a main-draw quota spot intended for domestic players, Blick reported. The tournament field features several leading international names, including Ben Shelton, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Taylor Fritz, alongside defending champion João Fonseca. Meanwhile, veteran Swiss player Stan Wawrinka—who has announced his retirement for the end of the year—will receive a special farewell ceremony during the event, with potential main-draw wild cards for younger Swiss players like Henry Bernet, Remy Bertola, Mika Brunold, Jérôme Kym, and Dominic Stricker to be finalized early next week.
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