ZURICH : Novak Djokovic has received a wildcard entry into the Swiss Indoors Basel, organisers announced on Friday, setting up his first appearance at the tournament since 2011 as he pursues a place at the season-ending ATP Finals and the 103rd title of his career.
The 39-year-old Serbian, a 24-times Grand Slam champion, heads to Switzerland following a mixed Asian swing that saw him capture a record seventh China Open title before suffering a surprise second-round defeat by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at the Shanghai Masters.
Djokovic, a four-times champion in Shanghai, has endured an inconsistent season by his standards, including a shock first-round exit at the U.S. Open, his earliest defeat at a Grand Slam tournament since the 2006 Australian Open.
His decision to compete in Basel comes as a surprise after the former world number one indicated following his Shanghai defeat that he intended to play only the Paris Masters, scheduled for Nov. 2-8, before the ATP Finals.
The additional tournament gives Djokovic another opportunity to gain valuable ranking points in the race for a place at the season-ending championships.
Djokovic will also be seeking to add another trophy to his collection as he continues his pursuit of a 103rd career singles title.
