Novak Djokovic kept his hopes of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin alive with a hard-fought comeback victory over Ugo Humbert. The 39-year-old tennis star defeated the Frenchman 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, marking his first appearance at the Basel tournament in 15 years.
Currently ranked 11th in the race to Turin, the 24-time major winner remains in contention for a record-equaling 19th appearance at the ATP Finals, where only the top eight performers of the year secure a spot. Djokovic needed two and a half hours to seal the match, eventually finishing the contest with a powerful forehand winner down the line.
Reflecting on the challenge, Djokovic noted that he was under constant pressure from the start and had to weather the storm against his opponent. He acknowledged his performance showed some rust in his first indoor match of the season, stating it was a significant victory despite areas for improvement. So I expected to be a little bit rusty in a tough draw, it’s my first indoor match.
This win serves as a nostalgic return to the venue where he first triumphed 17 years ago. Djokovic previously captured the Basel title in 2009 after defeating his long-time rival Roger Federer, though he had not competed at the event since 2011. It is a big win for me, I know there are quite a few things I can do better but a win is a win, and I will take that today.
