Madison Keys Amazed by Novak Djokovic’s ATP Finals Contention Despite Playing Handful of Tournaments: “Crazy”

Novak Djokovic signed up for the Swiss Indoors because, at this stage of his career, he enjoys competing indoors, even as a health issue worsens in hot, humid conditions. This marked his fourth appearance in the ATP 500 event in Basel.

Djokovic has won one title here, in 2009, by defeating home favorite Roger Federer. The following season, the 20-time Grand Slam champion beat him in the final.

Another reason he signed up for the event is to qualify for the ATP Finals, set to start on November 15. Djokovic, who won his seventh ATP Finals title back in 2023, skipped the event in the previous two seasons.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion, in spite of participating in a handful of tournaments this season, is still in contention for the year-end championships, leaving Madison Keys amazed. He is 11th in the Race to Turin.

The fact that he plays four tournaments a year and he’s even this close to making year-end finals is crazy. He’s still so good, and he’s always in the mix. He’s always a contender for the title, and you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah. He hasn’t played in four weeks, but he could win’.

Madison Keys said on The Player’s Box Podcast

After the Swiss Indoors, Djokovic will play at the Paris Masters, the main draw of which starts on November 2. Djokovic is a seven-time champion at the season’s final Masters 1000, last winning in 2023. He skipped the tournament in the previous two seasons.

He’s also the same guy that before he won the gold medal in Paris, he was talking about how he felt like he was a failure and he hadn’t accomplished enough in his career and everything. Him trying to make another finals is not surprising.

Madison Keys added

World No.1 Jannik Sinner is the two-time reigning champion in Turin. But he won’t be competing because he has already called time on the season due to a knee injury. Djokovic defeated Sinner at the 2023 ATP Finals.

Novak Djokovic on his future plans

Following the 2026 season, six players, including Novak Djokovic, will fly to Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam exhibition event, where the winner will take home $6 million in prize money. Sinner, the two-time defending champion, has confirmed his participation. In the previous two seasons, the five-time Grand Slam champion defeated his arch-rival, Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic, however, is uncertain whether he will compete in warm-up tournaments before the 2027 Australian Open. He reached the final of the Melbourne Slam this season after defeating two-time defending champion Sinner in the semifinals. Alcaraz beat him in the final.

I will be playing at the Six Kings exhibition in Saudi Arabia. For the next season, I know for sure that I will be in Australia. I will see if I will play a tournament before the Australian Open or not. I will decide in agreement with the team. Now the concentration is to finish the season as well as possible.

Novak Djokovic told Sportal

Apart from the Australian Open, the 39-year-old also reached the final of the China Open, where Alex de Minaur handed him the walkover. Djokovic last won a Big Title at the 2024 Paris Olympics by defeating Alcaraz.

Before arriving in Basel, the former World No.1 suffered an opening-round defeat at the hands of Hubert Hurkacz at the Shanghai Masters. It was his fourth opening-round defeat this season. Djokovic also lost in the first round of the US Open.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Explains Why Playing at Swiss Indoors Will Be ‘Easier’ Than Other Events