Djokovic Rallies Past Humbert to Win Basel Return in Three Sets

Novak Djokovic recovered from a set down to defeat Ugo Humbert in his return to Basel on Wednesday, winning four to six, six to three and six to four. The fourth seed advanced to the second round of the Swiss Indoors after two hours and 29 minutes.

According to the match report on his official website, Humbert broke in the third game of the opening set. Djokovic had an immediate chance to recover that break but could not convert, leaving the Frenchman to protect his advantage through the end of the set.

Djokovic changed the direction of the contest early in the second set. A break in the second game helped him establish a lead of three games to love, and he maintained that advantage to force a deciding set. One further break, in the fifth game of the third set, supplied the separation he needed.

The victory was his first in Basel since 2011 and his twentieth match win of the season. His next opponent is Struff, with their second round meeting scheduled for Thursday. Djokovic has won all eight previous meetings against the German, according to his official account.

Djokovic entered Basel at age 39 on a wildcard, with the official tournament preview identifying qualification for the ATP Finals as another objective. He arrived with 102 tour titles after winning in Beijing earlier this month. The championship in Basel would add another trophy to that career total.

The official draw preview records his Basel title in 2009, a final appearance in 2010 and a semifinal in 2011. This tournament runs through November 1 on indoor hard courts.

Basel has also supplied another major career moment this week, with Stan Wawrinka completing his final professional match. Djokovic continues his own campaign with a confirmed victory and another round ahead.