Novak Djokovic keeps ATP Finals dream alive with comeback win at Swiss Indoors

The Frenchman made the brighter start, breaking Djokovic before taking the opening set 6-4 in Basel.

However, the Serbian hit back early in the second set, breaking Humbert, who called for a medical timeout due to a back issue while trailing 4-1.

Djokovic held his nerve to claim the second set 6-3 before edging a tight decider to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in two hours and 29 minutes.

The win lifted him above Alex De Minaur into 10th place in the ATP Tour Race with 2,890 points, 10 more than the Australian. However, he remains behind Rafael Jodar, who has 3,184 points and currently occupies the final qualification spot for the season-ending event in Turin.

Djokovic admitted it took time to adjust to Humbert's ultra-aggressive approach, but was pleased with how he regained his composure and fought his way to victory.

Speaking in his on-court interview, he said: "Super tight match. Very intense from the very beginning. He was striking the ball beautifully, being super aggressive, taking away a lot of time from me.

"I was under attack from the very first point. I had to weather the storm, and it was tough; it was really tough for a set and a half. But I managed to find my rhythm at the beginning of the second and saved some break points, which was crucial.

"After that I started feeling a bit more comfortable with his tempo but overall a huge challenge, a great burden and obstacle that I succeeded to find the solutions in a tough match today.

"It's my first indoor match [of the season], so I kind of expected to be a little bit rusty and a tough draw for the first round. I only played Humbert once on grass years ago (three-set win for Djokovic at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships).

"Tough player, really quick conditions, it's hard to break the serve, and once you do you're under pressure with a player like him because he serves so well; he was super aggressive from all corners. It's a big win for me. I know there are quite a few things I can do better, but a win is a win, and I'll take that today."

Winning the Swiss Indoors title would lift Djokovic to 3,340 points, although the 39-year-old could still need some of his rivals to stumble this week and at the Paris Masters.

Next up, Djokovic will face in-form Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round. The German finished runner-up in Brussels last weekend.

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