Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic battled past Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 7-6 (7-5) in 2 hours and 44 minutes two days after losing the final of the Marseille ATP 250 tournament.
Medjedovic hit a forehand down the line winner to take a 2-1 lead in the opening set. The 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals champion held serve in the sixth game to move 4-2 up before Tsitsipas broke back to love to draw level with a forced error to 4-4 in the eighth game. Both players held serve in the next five games to set up a tie-break. Medjedovic won four straight points from 0-2 down to take a 4-2 lead before Tsitsipas won the next two points to draw level to 4-4. Tsitsipas missed a backhand on the ninth point, before saving two set points at 4-6. Tsitsipas faced a third set point after Medjedovic hit a forehand crosscourt winner. Medjedovic sealed the tie-break 7-6 in 55 minutes.
Both players held on their serve until the 11th game, when Medjedovic missed a forehand on the break point to drop serve. Tsitsipas held at love with a forehand winner to close out the second set forcing the match to the decider after 1 hour and 41 minutes. Medjedovic held serve after deuces in the first and fifth games.
Medjedovic injured his right leg while he was chasing a ball in the 10th game of the third set. He received a medical time-out and returned to the court to finish the match. He fired four service winners and to hold serve at 5-5.
Medjedovic hit a forehand down the line winner on the fourth point and hit a powerful serve for 4-1 in the tie-break. Medjedovic fired a forehand winner at 4-2. He hit a service winner on the ninth point to earn three match points at 6-3. Tsitsipas fended off two match points on his serve and reduced the gap at 6-5. Medjedovic fired a service winner on the third match point.
