Sports · Tennis · 4 hrs ago
Struff beats Djokovic in Basel, denting his ATP Finals hopes
Jan-Lennard Struff beat Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland.
Struff won 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, earning his first victory in nine meetings with Djokovic.
Djokovic leaves with 2,890 race points, below the 3,184-point mark for the last qualifying place in the ATP Finals race.
The season-ending tournament in Turin is for the top players on the year’s points list, and Djokovic had likely needed to reach the Basel final to stay in contention.
The loss leaves Djokovic outside the qualifying places, though he is still set to return to the world’s top 10 on Monday.
Struff will play Nuno Borges in the quarterfinals.
The race continues at next week’s Paris Masters, where players can still earn points toward qualification.
Jan-Lennard Struff beat Novak Djokovic in three sets in the Basel Open round of 16, earning his first win over the Serbian after eight previous losses.
The German won 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), finishing the match with an ace.
Djokovic’s defeat left him outside the qualifying places for the ATP Finals in Turin, with 2,890 points in the live race.
Struff advanced to the quarter-finals, where he is due to face Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
- Who
- Jan-Lennard Struff beat Novak Djokovic.
- What
- Struff won their Basel round-of-16 match in three sets. It was his first victory in nine meetings.
- When
- Thursday, 29 October 2026.
- Where
- The Swiss Indoors Basel tournament in Basel, Switzerland.
- Why
- Struff won the match; the sources do not state a further reason. Djokovic’s loss weakened his bid to qualify for the ATP Finals.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Struff reached the final of the ATP tournament in Brussels, where he lost to Tallon Griekspoor.
Struff beat Yannick Hanfmann in the first round in Basel, while Djokovic opened his tournament with a win over Ugo Humbert.
Struff beat Djokovic in three sets in the round of 16 and advanced to the quarter-finals.
Djokovic was left on 2,890 points in the live race for the ATP Finals and outside the qualifying places.
- Match score
- Struff won 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
- Head-to-head
- Struff’s first win in nine meetings with Djokovic
- Match-winning shot
- Struff closed the match with an ace
- ATP Finals live race
- Djokovic had 2,890 points and was outside the qualifying places
- Next opponent
- Nuno Borges of Portugal
11 sources
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What people are saying
I have never experienced him playing this well.
I can't believe it. Incredible! I lost all the last matches against him, but I also know that I have to keep playing. And I also needed a little luck.
I am very happy, especially with the way I played: bravely and moving forward the whole time. Even in difficult situations.