And when asked about the immediate future at the Swiss Indoors, Djokovic was insistent that he doesn’t plan to go anywhere just yet. Speaking to Sportal, he remarked: “This year I'd like to go to Turin [for the ATP Finals]. I've got a chance, we'll see.

“The other motivation for adding the tournament to this indoor season is that I think it'll be easier for me physically indoors, as there's no heat, sun, or the external factors I face when I play outside.

“I'll be playing in the Six Kings exhibition in Saudi Arabia. For next season, I know for sure I'll be in Australia. Right now, the focus is on finishing the season as best I can.”

Djokovic did make a triumphant return to the court following a break after his US Open disappointment. He won the China Open, albeit after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified in the semi-final and Alex de Minaur retired in the final.

“It wasn't planned like that at first, then I said I would come here before Paris. I love playing indoors, especially now at this stage of my career, extreme heat is not something I like.

“Playing indoors is better, I can save more energy and I hope I will feel good. The beginning of the tournament is always important for me, in tournaments like this where the draw is small, where a tough opponent comes right away. I've been training well in the last few days, I'm glad to be here in Switzerland.

“You have Federer, Wawrinka who will say ‘goodbye’ this week, Hingis, you have left quite a good tennis legacy, tennis is understood here and I am really glad to be here where it is being inherited.”