Djokovic receives Basel wildcard as he targets ATP finals return

Novak Djokovic has been awarded a wildcard for the Swiss Indoors Basel, marking his first appearance at the tournament since 2011 as the Serbian superstar continues his pursuit of ATP Finals qualification and the 103rd title of his illustrious career.

The 39-year-old arrives in Switzerland following a mixed Asian swing. Djokovic claimed a record seventh China Open title before suffering a shock second-round defeat to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at the Shanghai Masters, an event he has won a record four times.

Despite adding another trophy to his collection in Beijing, the former world number one has endured an inconsistent season by his exceptionally high standards. His campaign at the US Open ended in the first round, marking his earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2006 Australian Open.

Djokovic’s decision to compete in Basel comes as a surprise, particularly after he indicated following his Shanghai disappointment that he intended to play only the Paris Masters, scheduled for November 2–8, before the season-ending ATP Finals.

However, the ATP 500 tournament presents the 24-time Grand Slam champion with a valuable opportunity to boost his qualification hopes. Djokovic currently sits 11th in the ATP Live Race to Turin and needs to finish inside the top nine to secure his place, with world number one Jannik Sinner ruled out for the remainder of 2026 due to a persistent knee injury.

The Serbian will be making his fourth appearance in Basel, where he lifted the trophy in 2009 after defeating home favourite Roger Federer in the final.

Djokovic will face a competitive field at the indoor hard-court event, which runs from October 26 to November 1. Among the leading names expected to compete are Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime and American duo Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz.

With a place at the ATP Finals still within reach, Djokovic’s return to Basel could prove crucial as he looks to finish the season strongly and add another milestone to his remarkable career.