Novak Djokovic returned to the ATP tournament in Basel after a 15-year absence, saying the indoor conditions suit him at this stage of his career. He said he had trained well and welcomed a tournament where the draw is small and a difficult opponent arrives immediately. His first-round match was scheduled against France’s Ugo Humbert.¹

At his pre-tournament news conference, Djokovic made clear that age has not diminished his competitive ambitions. “If someone beats me, hats off, but I will definitely fight,” he said, adding that he would not make things easy for opponents 15 or more years younger than him.² The 39-year-old said playing against the younger generation remains a source of motivation, while acknowledging that victories over him should be respected.

Djokovic identified a 25th Grand Slam title as his main sporting objective. He said recent success in Beijing had shown him he could still compete at the highest level, but added that he must balance tennis with his wife, children and a greater desire to be present with his family.¹

His return also brought a reflective note. Djokovic praised Stan Wawrinka, who was preparing to retire, calling him a three-time Grand Slam champion whose passion remained evident even in the later stages of his career. On Roger Federer, Djokovic said they had maintained a professional, mainly rivalrous relationship, while expressing deep respect for the Swiss player’s contribution to tennis.²

The conference also touched on politics in Serbia. Djokovic said he was “very satisfied” with the role of students and young people in recent elections, praising what he described as their resistance to pressure and expressing hope for the country’s future.³