It was Djokovic’s 20th tour victory of the year. This is the 21st consecutive season of his astonishing career in which he has achieved this total.
After conceding the first set, Djokovic held his own against Humbert, 38th, saving break points twice to escape an immediate setback in the second.
But the Serb, playing his first indoor event since winning the title in Athens last November, was solid from there, breaking Humbert’s serve for the first time in the next match to restart his fightback.
Djokovic entered the tournament 319 points behind Spaniard Rafael Jodar, who currently occupies the last qualifying spot for the ATP Finals and also gained 50 points after finishing his first round match.
Djokovic also aims to tie Federer (103) for the second-most men’s tour titles in the Open era in Basel, after ending a year’s wait for his 102nd title in Beijing in October.
Elsewhere, Britain’s Harriet Dart advanced to the quarter-finals of the Guangzhou Open with a three-set victory over second seed Janice Tjen of China.
British number five Dart outlasted her Indonesian opponent by winning 6-4 3-6 6-3 after two hours and 28 minutes.
Dart, ranked 115th in the world, will face former world number two Paula Badosa, after the Spaniard needed just 67 minutes to beat Austrian Sinja Kraus 6-1 6-4.
Gn sports
