Belgrade Open: Shapovalov claims second career title, ends five-year wait for a trophy

Denis Shapovalov won his second professional title after defeating rising Serbian star Hamad Medjedovic in the Belgrade Open final. The Canadian had to fight through the qualifiers to reach the main draw, winning seven consecutive matches and reaching World No. 56, his best ranking in two years.

It took more than five years for the former World No. 10 to secure his second title. His first title came at the 2019 Stockholm Open, where he defeated another Serbian player, Filip Krajinovic (6-4, 6-4). However, he then endured a streak of five consecutive final losses, including the 2019 Paris Masters final against Djokovic.

Reaching the final this week was already a significant achievement for Shapovalov, whose last final appearance was at the 2022 Vienna Open (where he lost to Medvedev). The past seasons have been challenging for the 25-year-old, who only recently re-entered the top 100.

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'Shapo' ends the season on a high note with a title, which could be a positive sign for the upcoming 2025 season. Perhaps Shapovalov can rediscover the form that once dazzled the Tour and regain a top spot in the ATP rankings.

This week, he defeated notable opponents such as Nuno Borges (5th seed) and Jiri Lehecka (4th seed) without major issues. He still has one final challenge before concluding the season, as he will join Team Canada in the Davis Cup and will need to lead his country following Felix Auger-Aliassime’s confirmed absence from the squad in Malaga.

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