Tennis might have new Novak Djokovic in 20-year-old working privately with Serb

Novak Djokovic is aware of what tennis participant appears to be like like and the legendary Serbian seems to be backing a possible winner within the type of compatriot Hamad Medjedovic, who he has been privately coaching. The 20-year-old lately laid down an enormous marker by profitable the Next Gen ATP Finals occasion, beating prime seed and pre-tournament favorite Arthur Fils in a five-set thriller.

Djokovic has been preventing Medjedovic’s nook since 2021 when the 24-time Grand Slam champion dedicated to serving to the teen each on and off the court docket.

“Novak is actually attempting onerous for Hamad. In all methods: financially, mentally and socially,” said Medjedovic’s father Eldin when speaking to Serbian media outlet Sportal in 2022.

“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, still getting results, help?’

“I listen to him, and he adds: ‘You know what we’re going to do? Tomorrow, when Hamad succeeds, you will also take someone whom you will help!’”

Whatever it is that Djokovic has been doing with his apprentice is clearly working. Medjedovic won his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Germany back in July, before going on to win another three, qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Sharing his admiration for his esteemed teacher, Medjedovic told the ATP Tour website: “I remember meeting him when I was 10 I think and it was my birthday. I was in Belgrade and the former Davis Cup captain [Bogdan Obradovic] was working at his academy. I was practising there and he took me to the Novak Centre. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I remember Novak coming and we met there for the first time.

“It was the first time I had seen him in person and I got to talk to him. We just had a couple of words exchanged, and I think at the time it was the biggest thing of my life that happened. I had watched him on TV and now all of a sudden I got to talk to him a little bit. It was a great opportunity.”

While Djokovic snapped up his seventh ATP Finals triumph this year, the up-and-coming Serb followed suit a couple of weeks later by going undefeated in the group stage before outsmarting French prodigy Fils 3–4(6–8), 4–1, 4–2, 3–4(9-11), 4–1 in the Next Gen final.

Although there were no ranking points on offer, Medjedovic collected a very welcome £403,000 cheque, which was more than his entire career earnings up to that point in his blossoming journey.

He finishes the year ranked 113th in the world but given that previous winners of the Next Gen crown include Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner – who did not have Djokovic as their mentor – the sky is definitely the restrict for Medjedovic.