Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic Triumphs in Epic Five-Set Battle

Serbia’s talented tennis player, Hamad Medjedovic, made history as the sixth champion of the Next Gen ATP Finals with his remarkable five-set victory over France’s Arthur Fils.

The 20-year-old world number 111 showcased his resilience by bouncing back from losing two match points in the fourth set to secure a 3-4(6-8), 4-1, 4-2, 3-4(9-11), 4-1 triumph.

The tournament marks the culmination of the season for top-ranked male players aged 21 and under, featuring a best-of-five format to determine the champion.

Notable past winners include current top 10 players Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Medjedovic’s exceptional season included reaching tour-level semi-finals in Gstaad and Astana, as well as clinching victory in three ATP Challenger Tour events.

Although he was the lowest-ranked champion in the tournament’s history, Medjedovic seized the moment by converting his third match point against his formidable 19-year-old opponent, ranked 36 in the world.

Reflecting on his triumph, Medjedovic shared, “I can’t believe I have won this title but it’s going to give me a lot of confidence for 2024. Arthur is an amazing player – he’s top 40 for a reason – so I’m really happy.”

“It was tough after the first set. I changed my clothes and recovered and started to play good again. I didn’t play good when I had match points in the fourth set. I wasn’t relaxed, I was very stiff.”

“Thank God I recovered and I was just trying to stay relaxed as much as I could and I managed to do it in the end.”

During the week, Medjedovic received messages of support from compatriot Novak Djokovic, who had recently secured a record seventh ATP Finals title. Medjedovic expressed his pride, stating, “I’m happy to follow in his footsteps in some way.”