{"id":31106,"date":"2023-12-03T14:34:06","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T14:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/djokovic-protege-medjedovic-tops-fils-for-next-gen-crown-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-12-03T14:34:06","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T14:34:06","slug":"djokovic-protege-medjedovic-tops-fils-for-next-gen-crown-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/djokovic-protege-medjedovic-tops-fils-for-next-gen-crown-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Djokovic prot\u00e9g\u00e9 Medjedovic tops Fils for Next Gen crown | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nJEDDAH:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hamad Medjedovic upset top-seeded Arthur Fils 3-4 (6\/8), 4-1, 4-2, 3-4 (9\/11), 4-1 to win the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah on Saturday.<\/p>\n

At No.110 in the world, Medjedovic became the lowest-ranked champion in the six-year history of the 21-and-under tournament as well as the first Serbian to lift the Next Gen Finals trophy.<\/p>\n

Having gone undefeated through the group stage before storming to the title, Medjedovic has received $514,000 for winning the event, which is nearly $100,000 higher than his entire career prize money earnings.<\/p>\n

His triumph comes just two weeks after his mentor and compatriot Novak Djokovic<\/a> lifted a record seventh ATP Finals trophy in Turin.<\/p>\n

“It’s a nice thing obviously. The two of us from Serbia, he’s winning the big Masters I would say, the real one, and I’m winning the Next Gen, obviously it’s a huge thing and I’m really happy to follow his footsteps in some way,” said Medjedovic, who threw himself to the ground in disbelief after converting his third championship point.<\/p>\n

“It was a very special feeling. I couldn’t believe it, I still don’t believe it. It’s going to give me for sure a lot of confidence for 2024. Obviously Arthur is an amazing player. Rankings-wise he’s much better than me, he’s top-40 for a reason, he’s very good. I’m just really happy.”<\/p>\n

Fils, a leading candidate for the ATP Newcomer of the Year award, has enjoyed a banner 2023, which saw the French teenager rise from 251 in the world at the start of the year to a current career-high of 36.<\/p>\n

There was no Cristiano Ronaldo ‘Siu’ celebration for the 19-year-old on Saturday – as he had done after every victory in Jeddah – but Fils has plenty to be excited about, especially as he heads to Kuwait next week for a training block with 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who is plotting his return to the tour following a year-long injury hiatus.<\/p>\n

“It’s amazing. I will practise during one week or two with Rafael Nadal so I’m very happy. I will enjoy every time on the court with him and I will try my best to play with him and to learn from him,” said Fils.<\/p>\n

Medjedovic entered the final with a tournament-leading 50 aces struck through four matches and Fils knew he had to make an early statement on serve to send a strong message to his opponent.<\/p>\n

Three aces from Fils in the opening game of the contest set the tone for what was to come as the duo combined for a total of 13 aces in the first frame, which the Frenchman took after saving two set points in the tiebreak.<\/p>\n

A frustrated Medjedovic destroyed his racquet after squandering those two opportunities and took a toilet break between sets to change his clothes and calm down. It did the trick as the 20-year-old Serb broke early in the second set en route to a 3-0 advantage and he levelled the final at one-set all on the 53-minute mark.<\/p>\n

Medjedovic leapt to a 2-0 lead in the third set, and had dropped just nine points in total since smashing his racquet after losing the opening frame. Momentum clearly on his side, the Viktor Troicki-coached youngster seemed unstoppable as he took the third set in just 20 minutes, without dropping a single point on serve.<\/p>\n

A stunning stop volley from Fils earned him a pair of break points at 2-1 in the fourth but Medjedovic saved both for a clutch hold. Fils upped his game as he forced a tiebreak and saved two championship points before snatching the set on his third opportunity to take the final into a deciding fifth.<\/p>\n

Medjedovic again walked off court for a toilet break and found his range upon return, breaking Fils’ serve to carve a 3-0 gap. It was all he needed to regain control of the contest and he sealed the deal with his 19th ace.<\/p>\n

The Next Gen Finals is the first ATP-sanctioned tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia, with Jeddah set to host the event through 2027.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n