Novak Djokovic failed to match Roger Federer’s tally of 103 career titles after suffering a narrow defeat at the Basel event. The Serbian, who was playing in the Swiss city for the first time in 15 years, lost 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (5) to the 47th-ranked Jan-Lennard Struff. Following the match, fans of the retired Swiss icon trolled Djokovic, suggesting his intense focus on eclipsing Federer’s milestone may have contributed to his uncharacteristic performance in the Swiss hero’s hometown. 103 in Basel comes to bitter end. Where he had previously won one of his 102 career titles, djokovic participated in Basel for the first time in 15 years. But he ended up losing the tournament, federer fans pointed out how the Serbian is determined to break Federer’s 103-title record.
The match marked a significant upset, as Djokovic had previously maintained a strong record against the German player, having only dropped a single set to him during their 2020 Australian Open meeting. Despite having secured his 102nd tour title in Beijing earlier this month, Djokovic struggled to maintain momentum in Basel. Only Jimmy Connors, with 109 titles, and Federer currently sit ahead of the Serbian in the all-time career title standings.
Reflecting on the loss, Djokovic conceded that his performance was hindered by critical errors. Specifically, he identified three double faults while trailing 5-6 in the second set as the decisive turning point that allowed Struff to capitalize. While the Serbian expressed personal disappointment, he acknowledged Struff’s clinical execution, noting that the German earned the win after clinching his third match point.
Looking ahead, Djokovic confirmed that he will now turn his attention to the upcoming Paris Masters, which will serve as his final tournament appearance for the season. Despite the setback in Switzerland, the veteran remains focused on closing his campaign on a stronger note in France.
