Jan-Lennard Struff stunned Novak Djokovic to reach the quarter-final of the Swiss Indoor Basel.
The 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) victory was one of the most significant wins of the German’s career as Djokovic was dispatched in two hours and 36 minutes.
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The 36-year-old deservedly won through after an aggressive display featuring 27 aces, just three months after his first Grand Slam quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon.
Struff saved all six break points he faced and will now face Nuno Borges in the last eight, as Djokovic suffered a blow to his hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
“I knew I needed to go for it,” said Struff. “There was only one way to play it. So I was very, very happy.
“The last serve went in the corner like many balls today. I knew I had to play my best tennis to have a chance. Last eight times he beat me very, very easily. So [I’m] very, very happy and pleased with the performance.”
