The 21-year-old Hamad Medjedovic wrapped up the 2024 season with the ATP finalin Belgrade. The young Serb made a winning start to the 2025 season, conquering his fifth Challenger title at theIndoor Oeiras Open 1 event.
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Hamad faced the Canadian Liam Draxl in the title clash and earned a dominant 6-1, 6-3 victory in 69 minutes. Thus, Medjedovic added 75 ATP points 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 right call and having a chance to earn more points in the upcoming weeks.
Novak Djokovic has been helping Hamad for the last couple of years. The greatest player of all time is certainly pleased with the youngster's performance in the final. Hamad and Liam struggled to find the first serve, whichonly bothered one player!
Medjedovic dominated with his first serve and kept the second protected. He denied three of four break points while serving for the title and kept the pressure on the other side. The 5th seed could not follow that pace, dropping half of the points in his games and getting broken five times.
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The Serb needed half an hour to wrap up the opening set following a marvelous performance. Hamad dominated on an indoor court, serving well and providing two breaks. Liam experienced an early setback in the second game after squandering a game point.
Hamad fired a forehand down the line return winner for a break and a 2-0 advantage. The top seed closed the third game with a forehand crosscourt winner and painted a backhand down the line winner two games later for 4-1.
Draxl suffered another break in the sixth game and fell 5-1 behind. The 21-year-old Serb served for the opener in game seven and landed an ace to wrap up the first part of the match in style. Hamad gathered a boost and played even better early in the second set.
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Medjedovic landed a forehand down the line winner in the firstgame for a break. He held at love with a service winner for 2-0 and made another push on the return in the next one. Liam hit a double fault on the second break point to fall further behind.
Firing from all cylinders, Hamad grabbed the fourth game with a forehand down the line winner and closed the sixth with a powerful serve for a 6-1, 5-1 lead after 55 minutes! The Serb served for the title at 5-2 and lost the ground for a minute.
Draxl created four break points and seized the last to earn his first break and extend the battle. However, the Canadian suffered another break in the ninth game, allowing his rival to seal the deal and start a celebration.
