Hamad Medjedovic on Djokovic vs. Alcaraz: ‘All the streets were empty’ | ATP Tour

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Medjedovic on Djokovic vs. Alcaraz: ‘All the streets were empty’

The 21-year-old won last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF

August 13, 2024

Serbia’s capital Belgrade is home to around 1.6 million people. Historic landmarks, museums and attractions maintain a steady flow of traffic throughout the city. But Hamad Medjedovic will never forget the way Belgrade was during the Paris Olympics gold medal match when Novak Djokovic won the Golden Slam.

“I remember when he was playing, all the streets were empty. All you could hear was screaming, people’s voices screaming,” Medjedovic told ATPTour.com at this week’s ATP Challenger Tour 100 event in Cary, North Carolina.

“I think in the last few years, sports-wise, I think this is the biggest result we’ve had. Everyone expected him to win. Apparently he did everything, except that one. We were all very happy after winning it.”

Djokovic, who has spent more than eight years as World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, he was instrumental in Medjedovic’s journey to professional tennis. The 37-year-old player gave advice and offered resources to help his fellow man, be it equipment, coaches or financial assistance.

Medjedovic received one of his biggest awards at the end of last season, when he won the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which brought together past champions such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas. “I think I will remember that week for the rest of my life,” said Medjedovic.

The youngest of four siblings of retired parents, Medjedovic admits that “it will be difficult to do anything after Novak”, but she also wants to turn her early success into a storied career encouraging Serbian children to take up tennis. Perhaps starting with his nieces and nephew, Medjedovic enjoys spending time with him when he is at home.

“One of the best things I enjoy doing off the field is spending time with them. Another sister has three children, two-year-old twin boys and a four-year-old girl. They watch sometimes when I’m on TV, my sister puts it on,” said Medjedovc. “It’s fun to see the videos after that. I melt when I see them watching me.”

The four-time ATP Challenger Tour champion was struck down by a virus earlier this year, which kept him out of four tournaments in as many months. Since then he has shown flashes of his good form, pushing Daniil Medvedev in three tight sets in Rome and qualifying for Roland Garros for the second year in a row.

Medjedovic returns to hard courts this week for the first time since March on the ATP Challenger Tour.

“I think the Challenger Tour is the level that everyone must go through to reach the ATP, the level that we are all aiming for. I think the level in the Challenger Tour is very scary,” said Medjedovic. “I hope to get to the Top 100 and better so I can play all the ATP tournaments, but definitely, the Challenger Tour is the key for every player who wants to improve and become a better player.”