Struff defeats Djokovic in three-set Basel thriller

Jan-Lennard Struff produced a remarkable performance to eliminate Novak Djokovic from the Swiss Indoors Basel, defeating the Serbian 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(5) in a dramatic second-round encounter on Thursday. The German, ranked 47th in the world, secured his first victory over Djokovic after losing their previous eight meetings.

The match lasted approximately two hours and 37 minutes, with both players delivering an outstanding serving display. Djokovic edged the opening set in a tiebreak, winning it 7-4, but Struff responded strongly in the second to level the contest at one set apiece with a 7-5 victory.

The deciding set proved just as tense, with neither player able to establish a decisive advantage before another tiebreak settled the match. Djokovic fought hard and saved three match points, but Struff maintained his composure and eventually sealed the victory 7-5 in the tiebreak.

Struff’s powerful serve was a major factor in the upset, allowing him to put sustained pressure on the 24-time Grand Slam champion. The result ended Djokovic’s campaign in Basel, where he had returned for the first time in 15 years.

The German will now face Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the quarter-finals. Borges, ranked 53rd in the world, leads their head-to-head record 2-0, giving Struff another challenge as he looks to continue his impressive run in Switzerland.