Determined Djokovic falls short in Basel

Novak Djokovic’s chances of grabbing a late spot in the ATP Finals took a blow on Thursday with a 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (5) loss in the second round to on-form Jan Lennard Struff at the Swiss indoors.

The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion, still fighting for titles at age 39, stands provisional 11th in the points chase to the eight-man Finals set within a fortnight in Turin.

With Jannik Sinner out of action this season, the top nine make it into the year-ended.

But his early defeat will not help his chances of advancing even when helped earlier in the day here as Rafael Jodar (ninth) was beaten.

All will be decided next week at the Paris Masters, the last chance for Djokovic.

Djokovic, who added Basel as a late addition to his schedule,, has not played in the Swiss city since 2011 and is the only former champion (2009) in the field.

The Serb took the lead over Struff as he claimed the opening set in a tiebreaker and polished off his ninth career win without a loss against the German, a quarter-finalist here seven years ago..

But Struff, losing finalist last week in Brussels and boosted by his own fan base from Germany a few kilometres over the border of this Swiss Rhine city, began to take charge in the second and final set as he squeezed out the upset win after more than two and a half hours.

“We’re close to Germany here,” the winner said. “It was an amazing atmosphere.

“Of course Novak had a lot of supporters but I heard some Struffie shouts also.”

The win was the first ever for No. 47 Struff over Djokovic after losing their first eight matches.

The underdog said he had only one strategy.

“I knew I needed to go for it, that was the only way I could play. I’m very, very happy with the win, especially as that last serve hit inside the corner.

“I knew I had to play best to have any chances.”