Novak Djokovic's favourite teen Hamad Medjedovic wins fifth Challenger crown

The 21-year-old Hamad Medjedovic wrapped up the 2024 season with the ATP last in Belgrade. The younger Serb made a profitable begin to the 2025 season, conquering his fifth Challenger title on the Indoor Oeiras Open 1 occasion.

Hamad confronted the Canadian Liam Draxl within the title conflict and earned a dominant 6-1, 6-3 victory in 69 minutes. Thus, Medjedovic added 75 ATP factors to his tally and secured a top-100 debut on Monday. The Serb opted to skip the Australian Open {qualifications}.

He stayed in Europe and kicked off the season with the title in Portugal, making the fitting name and having an opportunity to earn extra factors within the upcoming weeks.

— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 11, 2025

Novak Djokovic has been serving to Hamad for the final couple of years. The best participant of all time is actually happy with the teen’s efficiency within the last. Hamad and Liam struggled to search out the primary serve, which solely bothered one participant!

Medjedovic dominated together with his first serve and stored the second protected. He denied three of 4 break factors whereas serving for the title and stored the stress on the opposite aspect. The fifth seed couldn’t comply with that tempo, dropping half of the factors in his video games and getting damaged 5 occasions.

Liam Draxl & Hamad Medjedovic, Oeiras Open 1 Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot

The Serb wanted half an hour to wrap up the opening set following a fabulous efficiency. Hamad dominated on an indoor court docket, serving properly and offering two breaks. Liam skilled an early setback within the second recreation after squandering a recreation level.

Hamad fired a forehand down the road return winner for a break and a 2-0 benefit. The highest seed closed the third recreation with a forehand crosscourt winner and painted a backhand down the road winner two video games later for 4-1.

Draxl suffered one other break within the sixth recreation and fell 5-1 behind. The 21-year-old Serb served for the opener in recreation seven and landed an ace to wrap up the primary a part of the match in fashion. Hamad gathered a lift and performed even higher early within the second set.

Medjedovic landed a forehand down the road winner within the first recreation for a break. He held at love with a service winner for 2-0 and made one other push on the return within the subsequent one. Liam hit a double fault on the second break level to fall additional behind.

Firing from all cylinders, Hamad grabbed the fourth recreation with a forehand down the road winner and closed the sixth with a strong serve for a 6-1, 5-1 lead after 55 minutes! The Serb served for the title at 5-2 and misplaced the bottom for a minute.

Draxl created 4 break factors and seized the final to earn his first break and lengthen the battle. Nevertheless, the Canadian suffered one other break within the ninth recreation, permitting his rival to seal the deal and begin a celebration.