Djokovic recovers from a slow start to reach the second round
Novak Djokovic returned to the Swiss Indoors Basel with a 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 victory over Ugo Humbert at St. Jakobshalle on Wednesday, October 28. It was Djokovic’s first appearance at the tournament in 15 years and carried him into the second round.
Humbert took control of the opening set with a break in the third game. Djokovic had an opportunity to respond in the following game but could not convert it, and the Frenchman protected his advantage to take the set 6–4.
Djokovic changed the direction of the match early in the second set. He broke in the second game and moved into a 3–0 lead, then maintained that margin to force a deciding set.
The decisive third-set break came in the fifth game. Djokovic held onto the advantage and completed the comeback after almost two and a half hours, according to the tournament’s official report. His own website recorded it as his 20th victory of the 2026 season.
The 39-year-old next faces Jan-Lennard Struff, who defeated Yannick Hanfmann 6–4, 6–3. Djokovic has won all eight of their previous meetings, according to his official match preview.
Tournament organisers scheduled that second-round match for Thursday, October 29, at 6 p.m. in Basel, which is 1 a.m. on Friday, October 30, in the Philippines. The comeback keeps Djokovic in the draw after an opening match in which he had to recover from a full-set deficit before establishing control.