News Desk: Novak Djokovic suffered a surprising defeat at the ATP 500 tournament in Basel, Switzerland, after Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff produced an impressive comeback to knock the Serbian superstar out in the second round on Thursday.
Struff defeated the 24-time Grand Slam champion 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) in a thrilling contest that lasted two hours and 35 minutes. The victory marked the German player's first career win over Djokovic after losing all eight of their previous encounters.
The match began with both players displaying excellent serving skills. Neither player managed to break serve in the opening set, forcing the contest into a tie-break. Djokovic eventually took control and secured the first set 7-6, putting himself in a strong position to advance to the next round.
However, Struff refused to give up. The German increased his attacking intensity in the second set and put Djokovic under considerable pressure. At 6-5, Djokovic faltered while serving, allowing Struff to secure a crucial break and win the set 7-5. The match was consequently pushed into a deciding third set.
The final set proved equally competitive, with both players fighting hard to gain the upper hand. Once again, the contest went into a tie-break. Struff maintained his composure during the decisive moments and eventually claimed the tie-break 7-5 to complete a memorable comeback victory.
The defeat is a significant setback for Djokovic, particularly with the ATP Finals in Turin scheduled for November. The season-ending tournament features the top eight players in the ATP Race rankings, making every remaining match important for those still fighting for qualification.
The 39-year-old Serbian currently sits 11th in the ATP Race standings and needs strong results to improve his chances of securing a place among the elite eight.
There was, however, some relief for Djokovic as ninth-ranked Spaniard Rafael Jodar also suffered a second-round exit in Basel. Jodar was defeated by Monaco's Valentin Vacherot.
Meanwhile, France's Arthur Fils strengthened his position in the qualification race with a hard-fought victory over American Alex Michelsen. Fils, currently seventh in the standings, won 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
Seven-time ATP Finals champion Djokovic will now have to look towards his remaining opportunities this season if he hopes to secure a place in the prestigious year-ending tournament. The unexpected Basel defeat has made his qualification challenge considerably more difficult.
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