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Novak Djokovic rallied from a set down to beat France’s Ugo Humbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Wednesday, October 28, keeping his bid to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals alive. The 39-year-old Serbian, seeded fourth, secured the win on his first appearance at the Basel tournament since 2011.
Humbert took the opening set 6-4 after applying early pressure, but Djokovic adjusted in the second. The Serbian broke serve early and moved into a 3-0 lead before closing the set 6-3 to level the match. He then found the decisive break in the fifth game of the third set and held his advantage to finish the contest 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The match lasted approximately two hours and 29 minutes. Reuters reported that Djokovic saved five of the six break points he faced and won 53 per cent of the points played. Those details reflected a demanding opening test against the left-handed Frenchman, who made the fourth seed work for his place in the second round.
After the match, Djokovic described it as “a super tight match, very intense from the beginning,” according to reports. He said he had been under pressure from the first point and found his rhythm at the start of the second set. The comments underlined the adjustments required after Humbert took the early lead.
The victory mattered because Djokovic entered Basel outside the current qualification places for the ATP Finals in Turin. Following the match, he was 11th in the ATP Live Race to Turin, 319 points behind ninth-placed Rafael Jodar, according to Djokovic’s official website. The top eight players normally qualify for the season-ending event, so the Serbian needs a strong late-season run to improve his position.
Djokovic had strengthened his qualification hopes by winning the China Open in Beijing earlier in October, earning the 102nd title of his career. However, an early exit at the Shanghai Masters left him with ground to make up. He accepted a wild card into Basel as he pursued a record 19th appearance at the ATP Finals.
The Serbian has won the ATP Finals seven times, most recently in 2023. He missed the last two editions because of injury, according to the match reports. The 2026 tournament is scheduled for November 15-22, leaving only a short period for players to secure their positions in the Race to Turin standings.
Djokovic’s appearance in Basel was his first at the Swiss Indoors since 2011. He had previously won the title in 2009, beating Roger Federer in the final, reached the championship match in 2010 and made the semi-finals in 2011. The tournament’s official preview noted that he returned as the fourth seed after accepting a wild card.
The indoor hard-court event runs from October 26 to November 1 and offers Djokovic an opportunity to add valuable ranking points before the season ends. His opener against Humbert was a reminder that the draw offers little room for a slow start, particularly when qualification points are at stake.
Djokovic’s next opponent was Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, who entered the second round after his own opening result. Before the match, Djokovic had won all eight of their previous meetings, giving him a strong historical record against the German. That record, however, does not remove the need to adapt to conditions and form in a new match.
Every additional win in Basel could help Djokovic close the gap in the Race to Turin, but his qualification is not guaranteed by the opening-round result alone. His progress will depend on his own results and the points earned by players around him in the standings.
Djokovic’s comeback win shows why late-season ATP events can carry significance beyond the tournament draw itself. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is chasing another appearance at a championship he has won seven times, and each match offers a chance to improve his position. For fans, the key storyline is whether he can turn the Basel start into a deep run and put himself back into contention for Turin.
