Last year’s Next Gen ATP Hamad Medjedovic beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-3 6-4 to reach his third tour-level semifinal at the indoor hard-court Belgrade Open tournament. Medjedovic scored the biggest win of his career against world number 29 Cerundolo. Medjedovic converted four of ten break points he earned.
Medjedovic broke serve at love in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Cerundolo broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Medjedovic converted his second break point in the ninth game and served out on his first serve point. Medjedovic converted his fifth break point in the first game of the second set and held his next three service games. He served out on his first match point after saving two break points in the eighth game.
Medjedovic has improved his tour-level record to 8-7 this year. He was sidelined by a virus and did not play an ATP Tour match until April. The Serbian player reached an ATP Challenger in Istanbul. Medjedovic beat US players Brandon Nakashima and Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first two round.
“I think it was tough, when you have a crowd like this. It’s crazy. I am playing really good here. I am feeling amazing in front of my crowd. I think I really found my level after a long time. I was working hard to find it, but in today’s match I think I played the best so far and I am happy that I won. With these kind of players, top players, you have to be focused throughout the whole match. I think I was losing my focus in the beginning of the second set, but I was trying to be better and better. I think in the middle of the second set I found my level again and I was playing good”, said Medjedovic. Medjedovic has risen 34 spots to number 124. He set an all-Serbian semifinal against Laslo Djere, who beat Fabian Maroszan. Jiri Lehecka came back from one set down to beat Lukas Klein 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-3. Lehecka set up a semifinal clash against Denis Shapovalov, who beat Christopher O’Connell 6-2 6-2 to advance to his first semifinal since his run to the Vienna championships match in 2022.
