A couple of days after losing the ATP Marseille final, the young Serb Hamad Medjedovic scored another notable victory in Doha, Medjedovic faced Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round and prevailed 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 in two hours and 44 minutes.
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Hamad finished the match literally on one leg, producing a little miracle. Namely, the Serb injured his right leg while chasing a ball in the tenth game of the decider. He received a medical timeout outside the court and returned to finish the duel without retiring.
Limping and struggling to move, Medjedovic embraced all or nothing shots. Hedelivereda crucial hold in game 11 with service winners and clinched a tie break to emerge at the top and secure a notable victory.
It was another blow for Tsitsipas who could not find a way to beat an injured opponent despite taking eight points more. The Greek played better behind the second serve, although they both faced only two break points.
Hamad got broken two times and provided one break. The young gun kept his composure in both tie breaks en route to a win and a place in the second round. However, he will have to withdraw from the tournament if his team does not manage to heal his right leg.
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They both hit over 40 service winners, and Stefanos had the upper hand from the baseline. The more experienced player landed 36 winners and 23 unforced errors. However, it was not enough to carry him over the top against a determined opponent.
Medjedovic made a push on the return in the third game of the encounter and landed a forehand down the line winner for an early advantage. The Serb moved 4-2 up before the Greek stepped in on the return at 3-4.
Stefanos pulled the break back at love with a forced error, returning to the positive side. They provided fine holds in the remaining game and introduced a tie break. Hamad took four straight points for 4-2 before bringing his rival back to the positive side.
Tsitsipas missed a backhand in the ninth point and fell behind. The more experienced player denied two set points at 4-6 before facing the third after the rival's forehand crosscourt winner. The Serb welcomed the opponent's mistake, wrapping up the first part of the duel 7-6 in 55 minutes.
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Stefanos presented six comfortable holds in the second set. Medjedovic followed that pace and forged the advantage five times. However, he lost his focus at 5-5. The young gun missed a forehand on a break point, falling behind and smashing his racquet into pieces.
Tsitsipas held at love at 6-5 with a forehand winner, wrapping up the set and forcing a decider after an hour and 41 minutes. Hamad held after deuces in games one and five to remain on the positive side and follow the rival's pace.
However, it could have been over for him after injuring his right leg while chasing a ball in game ten. Medjedovic received a medical timeout outside the court and returned to action, trying the impossible! Barely using his right leg, Hamad fired four service winners and held at 5-5.
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The young gun attacked on the return in the third point and caused the rival's mistake for a 2-1 lead. The Serb cracked a forehand down the line winner in the fourth point and landed a powerful serve for 4-1. Medjedovic fired a forehand winner at 4-2 to extend the lead and move closer to the top.
He landed a service winner in the ninth point for 6-3 and three match points. Stefanos defended two on his serve, reducing the gap to 6-5 and forcing his rival to run and lose energy in the 11th point. However, Hamad fired a service winner on the third match point, sealing the deal in style and moving through.
