Novak Djokovic came from a set down to beat Ugo Humbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Swiss Indoors in Basel on Wednesday. The match took just under two and a half hours, and it was Djokovic's first at the tournament since 2011, according to the ATP.

The result matters beyond this week. The 39-year-old is chasing a record 19th qualification for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, and the ATP said the win could prove pivotal to that bid. He took a wild card into Basel after winning the China Open in Beijing in October, and he is chasing a 103rd career title.

Humbert sets the early pace

Humbert, a left-hander who has won four of his seven ATP Tour titles indoors, as our draw preview noted, took the first set 6-4. Djokovic said in his on-court interview that he was "under attack" and "had to weather the storm", and that he expected to be "a little bit rusty" in his first indoor match of the year.

The match turned early in the second set. Djokovic broke in his first return game, the ATP reported, and Humbert took a medical timeout at 1-4 down to have his lower back treated. Djokovic took the set 6-3 and pulled away in the decider.

He was striking the ball beautifully, being super aggressive, taking the time away from me. I was under attack from the very first point. I had to weather the storm, but I managed to find my rhythm at the beginning of the second set.

Novak Djokovic, after the match, as quoted by the ATP

Tennis Now's Richard Pagliaro reported that Djokovic landed 73 per cent of his first serves, hit nine aces and saved five of the six break points he faced. The ATP said it was his 33rd consecutive win against a French opponent.

It was also his 20th tour-level win of the season, which the ATP noted is the 21st year running in which he has reached that mark. He has now beaten Humbert in both of their meetings, after their only earlier match at Wimbledon in 2019.
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Highlights via Tennis Tv

Struff is next, and Djokovic is 8-0 against him

Djokovic next plays Jan-Lennard Struff. Struff beat his compatriot Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday, and he reached the final in Brussels before Basel after beating top seed Arthur Fils there, the ATP said. Djokovic leads their head-to-head 8-0.

The quarter-final opponent would be Nuno Borges, who beat Casper Ruud 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday, according to the ATP. Djokovic beat Borges in the first round in Beijing, on his way to the title.