"You have the game to become a top player": Hamad Medjedovic recalls what Novak Djokovic told him as partnership began

Rising tennis player Hamad Medjedovic has been playing some of his best tennis on the ATP tour in his young career, and the Serbian credited some of his success to a conversation he had with compatriot Novak Djokovic a few years ago.

Medjedovic turned pro in 2021, and is on the verge of breaking into the top 100 as he currently sits at World No.107. The 20-year old won the biggest trophy of his career last year when he upset Arthur Fils to win the title at the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has been assisting the youngster financially and through mentorship during the early stages of his career, which began after the duo practiced together a few years ago. In a recent interview with the YouTube podcast Reketiranje, Medjedovic spoke about how Djokovic's words of wisdom inspired him to believe in himslef.

"Something Novak told me about four or five years ago when I was finishing my junior career, we practiced and he called me to meet him and said, 'You have to start believing in your shots and your tennis. You have the game to become a top player. You've got a game, you just have to never doubt it'," recalled Medjedovic. "That's what I'm left with and what I remember – believe in your shots, believe you can do it. When you hear that from Novak, who is the best tennis player of all time, then you start thinking a little bit."