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Medjedovic Is Next: Serbian Triumphs At NextGen ATP Finals

·48 min·4 clips

Hamad Medjedovic reveals how standing next to Novak Djokovic at the Davis Cup transformed his game.

Hamad Medjedovic joins past champions like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals. This episode of the ATP Tennis Radio Podcast features host Candy Reid interviewing Medjedovic and seven other tournament participants. The conversations explore each player's breakthrough 2023 season and their ambitions for the future. Medjedovic details learning from Novak Djokovic at the Davis Cup and climbing from outside the top 250 to just beyond the top 100. He highlights winning three Challenger titles, with a hard-court victory at the Rafa Nadal Academy being particularly special for his confidence. The Serbian credits coach Viktor Troicki for guidance and identifies improving his net game and backhand as key goals for 2024. Runner-up Arthur Fils discusses new tournament innovations like allowing fan movement during play, which he compares to other sports. Fils, who won his first ATP title in Lyon, reveals his coaching team now includes Sebastian Grosjean and Sergi Bruguera. Dominic Stricker reflects on his run to the US Open fourth round and his enjoyment of playing football for warm-ups. Luca van Assche recounts winning the longest Challenger final ever, a three-hour and fifty-six-minute marathon where he saved two match points. The Frenchman also balances his tennis career with studying at Paris Dauphine University. Luca Nardi, who won two Challenger titles, attributes his rise to training with more intensity and professionalism. Flavio Cobolli discusses the unique dynamic of being coached by his father and the current strength of Italian tennis. Alex Michelsen explains his rapid ascent from outside the top 600 to the top 100, crediting coaches Jay Leavitt and Eric Diaz for developing his forehand and competitive grit. Abdullah Shelbayh, the Jordanian wildcard, describes the positive pressure of representing the Middle East in Jeddah. A surprising insight is Medjedovic's immediate shift from celebrating his first ATP title in Lyon to competing at Roland Garros just two days later. Arthur Fils casually mentions grading his own year an "A-minus" while downplaying Jannik Sinner's season as just "all right." Luca van Assche reveals the logistical challenge of scheduling university exams around Grand Slams with help from the French federation. Alex Michelsen shares that his coach openly described his game as "a little bit jumbled," framing it as an area for potential improvement. The players express mixed reactions to the experimental "no warm-up" rule at the event, with some finding it an unreal challenge. Multiple competitors, including Flavio Cobolli and Luca Nardi, emphasize their strong passions for football, detailing club allegiances and how they follow matches on tour. The tone is conversational and journalistic, structured around direct interview questions that elicit personal reflections. The style is informative and forward-looking, focusing on career progression and player personalities rather than deep match analysis. Tennis fans interested in the next generation of stars and their personal journeys will find this episode compelling. Listeners seeking in-depth tactical breakdowns of matches or current tour news might find the focus on prospect interviews less engaging.

As heard by us

A clear look at a breakout champion and the everyday work behind his rise.

Hamad Majedovic's Next Gen ATP Finals win gives this episode its core, but the stronger thread is the way it follows a young player through a slow start and a late climb.

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Why you'd press play

Follow Hamad Medjedovic’s rise from around No. 250 to a Next Gen ATP Finals title.

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