Masking a complete space of 34,170 sq miles, Serbia is the 111th largest county on this planet. Whereas it might not be the largest in measurement, it’s a nation that has produced world-class tennis gamers all through the years. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is the clear instance, with now-retired Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki climbing as excessive as No. 8 and No. 12, respectively, within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
Aiming to comply with of their footsteps is 20-year-old Hamad Medjedovic, who will compete on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by NEOM in Jeddah subsequent week.
“It was an enormous factor for positive rising up, having so many good gamers in our nation,” Medjedovic instructed ATPTour.com when discussing his early influences. “I keep in mind beginning to watch tennis after I was a child. We had Novak [Djokovic], Viktor [Troicki] and Janko [Tipsarevic] they usually had been so good.
“I keep in mind watching them consistently. As a child it gave me loads of motivation to start out taking part in tennis after which to grow to be one in all them as a result of I noticed that they might do it. They’re coming from a small nation, identical as me, and it gave me loads of motivation and self-belief that I may do it as properly.”
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Djokovic captured a file seventh Nitto ATP Finals crown on Sunday to clinch his 71st ‘Huge Title’, which is a mix of Grand Slam championships, trophies on the Nitto ATP Finals, ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals.
On the high of the sport for greater than 15 years now, the 36-year-old has offered constant inspiration and assist for Medjedovic, who recollects the primary time he met the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
“I keep in mind assembly him after I was 10 I feel and it was my birthday,” Medjedovic mentioned. “I used to be in Belgrade and the previous Davis Cup captain [Bogdan Obradovic] was working at his academy. I used to be practising there and he took me to the Novak Centre. I did not know what was going to occur, however I keep in mind Novak coming and we met there for the primary time.
“It was the primary time I had seen him in particular person and I obtained to speak to him. We simply had a few phrases exchanged, and I feel on the time it was the largest factor of my life that occurred. I had watched him on TV and now swiftly I obtained to speak to him a bit bit. It was an ideal alternative.”
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Medjedovic has since risen by way of the Serbian ranks, frequently coaching along with his countrymen. He’s grateful for his or her fixed assist and revealed their success has been an ideal supply of inspiration.
“I’ve recognized them for a few years already the fellows. Even after I wasn’t on the Tour, after I was taking part in juniors, I used to be good as a junior, so I practised many instances with Dusan [Lajovic], Laslo [Djere], Filip [Krajinovic], Miomir [Kecmanovic] and Noel,” Medjedovic mentioned. “I used to be speaking with them once we had been hitting they usually had been giving me so many issues that I may work on. When you will have guys like this speaking to you and supplying you with recommendation on your profession, it has had a big effect.
“It motivates me and I am taking a look at it from a optimistic facet. I hear so many compliments and a few of the guys are saying that I am the way forward for our tennis. It provides me motivation and the gasoline to be even higher.”
Medjedovic continues to make full use of his Serbian community, having joined forces with three-time tour-level champion Troicki firstly of the season. Coach Troicki has helped Medjedovic rise to No. 102 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, win three ATP Challenger Tour titles and attain tour-level semi-finals in Gstaad and Astana.
“Viktor was working on the Novak Centre. He was a head coach there and was supervising me,” Medjedovic mentioned when discussing the pair’s relationship. “He was a mentor after which firstly of 2023 he grew to become my coach full time. He is giving me loads of actually good recommendation and he is serving to me day-after-day.
“The season collectively has been good. The primary 4 or three months I used to be struggling a bit bit. It took time to start out doing what we had been engaged on throughout pre-season. After a few months, all of it clicked. I performed properly in India in February. I made my first semis after a very long time after which the whole lot began going higher. I additionally performed within the semi-finals in Gstaad. It was an enormous factor for me, beating a few gamers from the High 100.”
The 20-year-old will now goal to complete the 12 months strongly on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, the place he’ll compete alongside Arthur Fils, Dominic Stricker, Luca Van Assche, Flavio Cobolli, Alex Michelsen, Luca Nardi and Abdullah Shelbayh.
Medjedovic is happy to play at an occasion that has topped Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as champions. He additionally gave followers perception into what they need to count on to see from him on court docket in Saudi Arabia.
“Figuring out that you just’re within the High 8 on this planet of 21 and below gamers, it is a massive factor by itself. Additionally simply figuring out that mainly whoever performed it earlier than is an effective participant now,” Medjedovic mentioned.
“I discover myself as a really aggressive participant on the court docket. I attempt to dictate that. I see myself as a superb server. I am not going to be speaking so many good issues about myself, however I feel I’ve an ideal serve, an ideal forehand, and my fashion of recreation is that I am aggressive on the court docket.”
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