Masking a complete space of 34,170 sq miles, Serbia is the 111th largest county on this planet. Whereas it might not be the most important in measurement, it’s a nation that has produced world-class tennis gamers all through the years. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is the clear instance, with now-retired Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki climbing as excessive as No. 8 and No. 12, respectively, within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Aiming to comply with of their footsteps is 20-year-old Hamad Medjedovic, who will compete on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by NEOM in Jeddah subsequent week.

“It was an enormous factor for certain rising up, having so many good gamers in our nation,” Medjedovic advised ATPTour.com when discussing his early influences. “I bear in mind beginning to watch tennis after I was a child. We had Novak [Djokovic], Viktor [Troicki] and Janko [Tipsarevic] they usually have been so good.

“I bear in mind watching them continually. As a child it gave me loads of motivation to begin taking part in tennis after which to develop into certainly one of them as a result of I noticed that they may do it. They’re coming from a small nation, similar as me, and it gave me loads of motivation and self-belief that I might do it as properly.”

Djokovic captured a report seventh Nitto ATP Finals crown on Sunday to clinch his 71st ‘Massive Title’, which is a mixture of Grand Slam championships, trophies on the Nitto ATP Finals, ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals.

On the high of the sport for greater than 15 years now, the 36-year-old has offered constant inspiration and assist for Medjedovic, who recollects the primary time he met the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

“I bear in mind assembly him after I was 10 I feel and it was my birthday,” Medjedovic mentioned. “I used to be in Belgrade and the previous Davis Cup captain [Bogdan Obradovic] was working at his academy. I used to be practising there and he took me to the Novak Centre. I did not know what was going to occur, however I bear in mind Novak coming and we met there for the primary time.

“It was the primary time I had seen him in particular person and I bought to speak to him. We simply had a few phrases exchanged, and I feel on the time it was the most important factor of my life that occurred. I had watched him on TV and now rapidly I bought to speak to him a little bit bit. It was an incredible alternative.”

Medjedovic has since risen by way of the Serbian ranks, repeatedly coaching together with his countrymen. He’s grateful for his or her fixed assist and revealed their success has been an incredible supply of inspiration.

“I’ve recognized them for a few years already the blokes. Even after I wasn’t on the Tour, after I was taking part in juniors, I used to be good as a junior, so I practised many instances with Dusan [Lajovic], Laslo [Djere], Filip [Krajinovic], Miomir [Kecmanovic] and Noel,” Medjedovic mentioned. “I used to be speaking with them once we have been hitting they usually have been giving me so many issues that I might work on. When you could have guys like this speaking to you and providing you with recommendation to your profession, it has had a huge impact.

“It motivates me and I am it from a optimistic facet. I hear so many compliments and among the guys are saying that I am the way forward for our tennis. It offers me motivation and the gasoline to be even higher.”

Medjedovic continues to make full use of his Serbian community, having joined forces with three-time tour-level champion Troicki in the beginning of the season. Coach Troicki has helped Medjedovic rise to No. 102 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, win three ATP Challenger Tour titles and attain tour-level semi-finals in Gstaad and Astana.

“Viktor was working on the Novak Centre. He was a head coach there and was supervising me,” Medjedovic mentioned when discussing the pair’s relationship. “He was a mentor after which in the beginning of 2023 he grew to become my coach full time. He is giving me loads of actually good recommendation and he is serving to me day by day.

“The season collectively has been good. The primary 4 or three months I used to be struggling a little bit bit. It took time to begin doing what we have been engaged on throughout pre-season. After a few months, all of it clicked. I performed properly in India in February. I made my first semis after a very long time after which every little thing began going higher. I additionally performed within the semi-finals in Gstaad. It was an enormous factor for me, beating a few gamers from the Prime 100.”

The 20-year-old will now goal to complete the yr strongly on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, the place he’ll compete alongside Arthur Fils, Dominic Stricker, Luca Van Assche, Flavio Cobolli, Alex Michelsen, Luca Nardi and Abdullah Shelbayh.

Medjedovic is happy to play at an occasion that has topped Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as champions. He additionally gave followers perception into what they need to count on to see from him on courtroom in Saudi Arabia.

“Realizing that you just’re within the Prime 8 on this planet of 21 and beneath gamers, it is a large factor by itself. Additionally simply understanding that principally whoever performed it earlier than is an effective participant now,” Medjedovic mentioned.

“I discover myself as a really aggressive participant on the courtroom. I attempt to dictate that. I see myself as a superb server. I am not going to be speaking so many good issues about myself, however I feel I’ve an incredible serve, an incredible forehand, and my fashion of sport is that I am aggressive on the courtroom.”