High-class crime in Basel: The next tennis coup: Struff beats Djokovic for the first time

Jan-Lennard Struff defeated Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the ATP tournament in Basel on Wednesday, securing his first victory against the Serbian legend. The 36-year-old German won the match 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 after two hours and 36 minutes of play. This result marked a historic upset, as Struff had lost all eight previous meetings with Djokovic. The win advances Struff to the semifinals, where he will face Portuguese player Nuno Borges on Thursday. The defeat ends Djokovic’s run in Switzerland, adding to a recent string of early exits for the former world number one. The match unfolded as a high-level contest that saw both players trading sets. Djokovic took the opening set in a tiebreak, winning 7-6 after a tight battle. However, Struff responded strongly in the second set, saving four break points against him before breaking Djokovic’s serve at 6-5 to take the set 7-5. This achievement was particularly notable because Struff had won only one set total in his previous eight encounters with the Serbian star. The deciding third set maintained the high intensity, forcing another tiebreak. Struff held his nerve on his own service game and converted his third match point to claim the victory. Post-match interviews highlighted the shock of the result. Struff described the performance as one of his best ever, citing bravery and forward movement even in difficult situations. He acknowledged needing luck but emphasized that he knew he had to play at his highest level to overcome an opponent who had beaten him easily in their last eight meetings. Djokovic expressed disbelief, stating he had never seen Struff play so well. The Serbian admitted he could not believe what happened during the ninth duel between them. This victory caps a remarkable week for German tennis. On the same day, Alexander Zverev secured the world number one ranking in Vienna. Zverev reacted to Struff’s win with surprise, asking aloud if his teammate had really beaten Djokovic. While pleased, Zverev expressed hope that this would not be just another isolated week of brilliance for Struff, noting that consistency would be crucial for the Davis Cup team. Struff himself noted that his current confidence boost might be linked to his selection for the Davis Cup final round in Bologna later in November. He had been left out of the squad for the recent match against Croatia in Haltern am See, which reportedly frustrated him. Struff arrived in Basel following a strong showing in Brussels, where he reached the final before losing to Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. In Basel, he opened his campaign with a straight-sets victory over fellow German Yannick Hanfmann. Another German, Daniel Altmaier, exited the tournament earlier in the round of 16. The 28-year-old from Kempen lost to Czech qualifier Jiri Lehecka, ending his hopes of reaching consecutive quarterfinals. Altmaier is still competing for a spot in the German Davis Cup squad for the upcoming finals. Djokovic entered the Basel tournament ranked 12th in the world. His path to the quarterfinals included a win over French player Ugo Humbert. This loss in Basel follows another early exit recently, where he fell in the first round of the Shanghai Masters to Hubert Hurkacz. The Croatian media noted that Djokovic missed all six break points available to him during the match against Struff, despite providing solid overall play. Struff recorded 46 winners in the decisive encounter. The atmosphere in Basel was electric, with spectators cheering Struff throughout the match. Djokovic was seen discussing tactics with his coach Viktor Troicki in frustration during the third set. Despite these efforts, the German maintained control of key moments, including defending a break point in the deciding set. The result stands as a major upset in professional tennis, given the historical dominance Djokovic has held over Struff. The next challenge for Struff comes immediately, as he prepares to face Borges, who is 29 years old. The match is scheduled for Thursday, October 30.