Hamad Medjedovic: The Serbian Prodigy Backed By Novak Djokovic - UBITENNIS

Hamad Medjedovic: The Serbian Prodigy Backed By Novak Djokovic

Since the start of the season, Medjedovic has risen up the rankings by more than 400 places.

By Adam Addicott
6 Min Read

Hamad Medjedovic may not be a name known by many tennis fans but one of the world’s best players is helping support the development of his career. 

The 19-year-old Serbian is a former top 10 player on the junior Tour who peaked at a high of No.9 in January 2021. Although he experienced modest success at the junior Grand Slams with his best run being to the quarter-finals of the 2020 French Open doubles tournaments. However, his transition to the pro circuit has been a successful one. This season he has already won four tournaments. On the ITF Futures Tour, he claimed back-to-back titles in Turkey before winning another in Montenegro. However, it was at a Challenger event in Germany where he achieved his breakthrough result. 

At the Platzmann-Sauerland Open Medjedovic stunned the draw by coming through qualifying en route to the title. Dropping only one set in seven matches played. At the time of that triumph he was ranked 395th in the world but has since shot up the rankings to a career-high of 259th. 

https://twitter.com/MedjedovicHamad/status/1544950832793374721

According to Medjedovic’s father, Eldin, one of the first people to congratulate his son was Djokovic who was playing at Wimbledon. The youngster is a member of the Novak Tennis Academy. Whilst he is still an active player, the former world No.1 has been involved in trying to help develop the career of his compatriot. 

Novak is really trying hard for Hamad. In all ways: financially, mentally and socially,” Eldin told Sportal
“I remember a conversation with Novak. We specifically talked about the steps in Hamad’s career. I pinched myself during that conversation to convince myself that all this was happening. He was giving me ideas, about what to do about Hamad, and I remember saying to him: “Nole, I’m sorry, but it all costs money!” He continues, suggests me a coach, talks about how we will do, what we will do and adds: “It’s up to Hamad to train, I’ll do the rest!” I tell him again: “Nole, it costs money!” 
“Then Novak told me: “Edo, I don’t do this for money! I have a place where I earn money. Simply, my role and my task is to help. What kind of person would I be if I didn’t help children who deserve it, who love tennis.”

The two trained together in Montenegro back in April at the Bay of Kotor. That occurred shortly after Medjedovic won two titles in Turkey. Eldin recalls a phone call he had with the tennis star during that time. When he asked his son if he had been asking Djokovic for tips, he received an unexpected response. 

“I don’t build a relationship with him like that, only a friendly one because he treats me like a friend, so I would like to be his friend too,” Medjedovic said. 

Image via https://www.instagram.com/p/CIs0suRBugR/

Speaking about the rising star, Djokovic says his rise has been achieved through a change in his work ethic. Placing him in the world’s top 100 when it comes to playing ability and training. 

Right now he is in a transition zone between the ITF tournaments and the major circuit, in which many players remain throughout their careers. I have many friends at those levels, who struggle to rise further. But Hamad has put himself in an interesting position because if he manages to move up another thirty places he could enter the qualifiers of the Grand Slam tournaments: that is the next goal. I am very confident for his future,” Super Tennis quoted Djokovic as saying.
“He deserves these successes for all the efforts of the last year and a half. His work ethic has changed a lot. He completely changed his approach to training and competitions, changed his diet, his recovery work, some habits and much more. This is producing important results. It is proof that with patience, commitment and dedication the goals arrive. In terms of play and athletic training, he already deserves the top 100 in the world, but certain steps take time.”

Medjedovic is coached by former player Ilija Bozoljac who reached a ranking high of 101 in 2007. At Djokovic’s academy, he also has sessions with recently retired Viktor Troicki. 

“Now I would like to go up to around number 150, to start approaching the major circuit tournaments full time,” Medjedovic said of his future goals. “But the most important thing at this stage of my career is to feel good physically. In Germany I proved I can do good things: it was one of the best weeks of my life, I beat high-level opponents and realized one of the first dreams of my career. I see it as a beginning, a sort of introduction to tennis that matters.”

Medjedovic played in the qualifying draw at this week’s Kitzbuhel Open. He lost in the first round to sixth seed Gerald Melzer 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. 

Leave a comment