How Roger Federer reacted when asked if he wanted to ‘get even’ with Novak Djokovic in Belgrade after losing Basel final

Roger Federer lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2009 Swiss Indoors final, 4-6, 6-4, 2-6.

Making his Basel debut, Djokovic took down the home favourite to lift the trophy 17 years ago. Federer, who entered the tournament as the three-time defending champion, was understandably disappointed with the result and his performance.

The next year, at an Italian Open press conference, a reporter asked Federer whether he would consider playing in Belgrade instead of Estoril to ‘get even’ with Djokovic and win his home tournament. Federer issued the following response.

Roger Federer said he would make sure Novak Djokovic wouldn’t win Basel again

“Not really, I’m not that kind of guy. He can come to Basel every year if he wants; I’ll make sure he won’t win again,” said Federer at the 2010 Italian Open.

Federer never played in Belgrade, but Djokovic did return to Basel. The Swiss star kept his promise, though, as the Serb failed to win another Swiss Indoors title. Djokovic lost to Federer in the 2010 final, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6, before losing to Kei Nishikori in the 2011 semi-finals.

Novak Djokovic’s record in Basel after beating Roger Federer (7-2)

• 2010 Swiss Indoors 1R [WIN] vs Ernests Gulbis, 6-4, 6-2
• 2010 Swiss Indoors 2R [WIN] vs Jarkko Nieminen, 6-4, 7-6
• 2010 Swiss Indoors QF [WIN] vs Robin Haase, 6-2, 6-3
• 2010 Swiss Indoors SF [WIN] vs Viktor Troicki, 7-6, 6-4
• 2010 Swiss Indoors F [LOSS] vs Roger Federer, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6
• 2011 Swiss Indoors 1R [WIN] vs Xavier Malisse, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
• 2011 Swiss Indoors 2R [WIN] vs Lukasz Kubot, 6-1, 6-2
• 2011 Swiss Indoors QF [WIN] vs Marcos Baghdatis, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
• 2011 Swiss Indoors SF [LOSS] vs Kei Nishikori, 6-2, 6-7, 0-6

After losing to Nishikori, Djokovic admitted he was struggling physically and said he wouldn’t be able to train for a few days. The Serb then retired from his quarter-final match at the Paris Masters.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to train for the next few days. I could barely serve for much of the match; I was in pain. My shoulder is very bad; we won’t even talk about the third set. I have a lot of pain in my body from the competition this week,” he said.

Djokovic hasn’t played in Basel since, as Federer kept his promise to stop him from winning again. Federer remains the most successful player in Swiss Indoors history, having won 10 titles at his home event.

Multiple Swiss Indoors champions

However, Federer’s promise could be broken this year. Djokovic accepted a wild card to return to the Swiss Indoors after 15 years away as he continues his bid to qualify for the ATP Finals.

The Serb currently sits 11th in the ‘Live ATP Race’, behind Alex de Minaur and Rafael Jodar. He must overtake both players to book his ticket to Turin. Djokovic trails De Minaur by 40 points and Jodar by 69 points.

Djokovic could earn 500 crucial ranking points in Basel later this month, but which players will stand between the Serb and his second Swiss Indoors title?

The top eight seeds at the 2026 Swiss Indoors

1. Ben Shelton

• Swiss Indoors record (5-2)
• Best Swiss Indoors performance – Final (2024)
• Last Swiss Indoors performance – Second round (2025)

2. Felix Auger-Aliassime

• Swiss Indoors record (13-3)
• Best Swiss Indoors performance – Champion (2022, 2023)
• Last Swiss Indoors performance – Quarter-final (2025)

3. Arthur Fils

• Swiss Indoors record (3-1)
• Best Swiss Indoors performance – Semi-final (2024)
• Last Swiss Indoors performance – Semi-final (2024)

4. Novak Djokovic

• Swiss Indoors record (12-2)
• Best Swiss Indoors performance – Champion (2009)
• Last Swiss Indoors performance – Semi-final (2011)

5. Rafael Jodar

• Swiss Indoors record – N/A
• Best Swiss Indoors performance – N/A
• Last Swiss Indoors performance – N/A

6. Taylor Fritz

• Swiss Indoors record (5-5)
• Best Swiss Indoors performance – Quarter-final (2018)
• Last Swiss Indoors performance – Second round (2025)

7. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

• Swiss Indoors record (4-2)
• Best Swiss Indoors performance – Final (2025)
• Last Swiss Indoors performance – Final (2025)

8. Jiri Lehecka

• Swiss Indoors record (0-2)
• Best Swiss Indoors performance – First round (2024, 2025)
• Last Swiss Indoors performance – First round (2025)

The 2026 Swiss Indoors begins on October 24. Brazil’s Joao Fonseca is the defending champion, having beaten this year’s seventh seed, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, in the 2025 final.