“Would you believe who was the first to congratulate me on my title? Novak Djokovic)!”, Hamad Medjedovic he told the Serbian media sportshaving won his first Challenger trophy in Lüdenscheid.
“When I picked up my phone, I saw his voicemail that was over a minute long. He is a legend because he is always available for advice, he really wants to help and he knows how to listen.”
Later, that day, Novak Djokovic I was going to play Tim van Rijthoven in the fourth round at Wimbledon. It was a grueling match, mentally more than physically, but Djokovic emerged victorious.
Djokovic: “Phenomenal”
Every time Djokovic gets the chance to talk about some of the young players he has been mentoring, his eyes light up. Never mind that he was chasing her seventh Wimbledon title and who had many media engagements afterwards, still spoke at length when asked about Medjedovic’s success.
“It was phenomenal – winning his first Challenger title in the heats is a great result and I congratulated him,” said a visibly pleased Djokovic.
“His jump in the rankings (Medjedovic is currently number 259 in the world) will mean a lot for the future. I have a lot of friends who are stuck in that second level of tennis, between Futures and 250, it’s hard to break through, but Hamad is now close to playing Grand Slam qualifiers.”
Medjedovic, 19, has been talked about as a top prospect in Serbia since his teens and achieved a combined ranking of No. 9 in juniors: at Roland Garros 2020, he defeated top seed Harold Mayot of France. Still, advancing to the professional level is an entirely different animal, which Hamad quickly realized.
Born in 2003 in Novi Pazar, the cultural center of Bosnians in Serbia, Medjedovic had several problems last season, one of which was contracting severe covid, which left him unable to practice for three months and lost 10 kilograms in the process.
Still, Djokovic and Novak Tennis Center took him under their wings, which was a great starting point. Like his father Eldin Medjedovic saying sportsNovak is making an effort with Hamad in every way: financially, mentally and socially.
What kind of man would he be if he didn’t help those who deserve it, who love tennis?
Novak Djokovic
“I remember the second conversation I had with Novak, we talked about specific steps in Hamad’s career. Novak was pitching me ideas, what to do with Hamad’s game, and I remember saying to him, ‘Nole, I’m sorry, but the things you talk about cost a lot of money!’ And he keeps talking about coaches, what we’re going to do and how, and then he says, ‘All Hamad needs to do is work hard, I’ll take care of the rest.’ I told him again: ‘Nole, it costs a lot’”.
Eldin Medjedovic pinches himself
Eldin remembers pinching himself during the conversation, just to make sure it was really happening.
“At that point, Novak said to me, ‘Edo, I’m not doing this for the money! I make my money elsewhere, my role here is to help. What kind of man would he be if he didn’t help those who deserve it, those who love tennis and also achieve good results?’ I just stand there and he adds, ‘You know what we’re going to do? One day when Hamad does it, you will take someone under your wings and help them in the same way.’”
Hamad (Medjedovic) deserved this success with the work he has been doing for the last year and a half.
Novak Djokovic
For a year and a half, Medjedovic has been working with Ilija Bozoljac, a former number 101 known for his powerful serve; once it reached 245 km/h. If it had been for more guidance and better logistics, Bozoljac could have achieved much more in his career: he almost took federer to five sets at Wimbledon 2010, and was the Davis Cup doubles hero for Serbia in 2013, when he and Nenad Zimonjić defeated Bob and Mike Bryan 15-13 in the fifth set.
Medjedovic now has it, the orientation and the logistics, and little by little, but surely, things are falling into place. Although Hamad joked that he felt it was easier to win a Grand Slam title than a Futures title, he already has three Futures trophies to his name this year (two in Antalya and one in Ulcinj).
Medjedovic defeated Cecchinato and Jarry
But the most important moment of his professional career so far has come in the aforementioned Lüdenscheid. Coming off the heats, he rocketed up the draw past Vitaly Sachko, Filip Horansky, former World No.16 Marko Cecchinato (6-1, 6-1!), top seed Nicolas Jarry, former World No.38 and finally Zhang Zhizhen in the final. .
“He deserved this success for the work he has done over the last year and a half,” Djokovic told Serbian journalists at Wimbledon.
“Hamad’s work ethic has improved a lot: he has changed his diet, the way he practices and recovers, the approach to practice and the game itself. And as we have been telling him, the results will come if he stays patient, dedicated and really wants it. He has transformed recently and I really feel that physically and in terms of play he should be able to break into the top 100 soon. Everyone just has to follow certain steps, and Hamad is guided by a team of experts. So far so good!”
Thank God, there are still people who care not only about money, but about the human side of things.
Hamad Medjedvic’s father
Hamad’s father said that last season Djokovic paid for Medjedovic’s coaches, hotels, plane tickets, physiotherapists, preparations…
“We did not spend a penny, and believe me, that is not little in the world of tennis, on the contrary. Imagine, the best player in the world is calling my son to work together in the preseason, it’s as if Messi or Ronaldo told you: ‘Let’s play football’ or ‘Let me know if you need anything’. These kinds of things are rare in today’s world, but thank God, there are still people who care not only about money, but about the human side of things.”
Helping Danilovic and other Serbian players
During the Australian Open 2021, Djokovic was seen in the box of Olga Danilović, another young Serbian player, and his coach Goran Ivanisevic watched Danilovic’s matches at Roland-Garros this year. When he spends time in Belgrade, he practices at the Novak Tennis Center, but he also mentors and talks to many players there. In December 2020, Djokovic organized a mini-camp for the players in his Center.
As for Hamad, he was a bit nervous about working with Djokovic, but as the two got to know each other better, the tension quickly disappeared.
“The best in the world is inviting us to do a pre-season together, of course Hamad felt a bit of pressure, a bit of nervousness,” said Eldin Medjedovic, “but Novak knew how to approach him, relax him a bit: ‘What is up, Medo (nickname for Medjedovic)?’ Then she hugs him and suggests they play basketball. These little things matter.”
Medjedovic has greatly improved his serve and his backhand; Although he plays a two-handed backhand, some of the players told him that his style of play resembles that of Dominic Thiem.
With a 21-time Grand Slam champion on his ear, Medjedovic has a better chance of fulfilling his dreams. He and the rest of the youngsters at the Novak Tennis Center.