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‘Was the Biggest Thing of My Life’ – 20YO Prodigy Backed by Novak Djokovic Turns Emotional as He Recalls His First Meeting With the Serbinator

Published 11/23/2023, 5:15 AM EST

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via Reuters

For young tennis players, a chance encounter with their idol can be a life-changing moment. And there is no better person than Hamad Medjedovic to explain this situation. Hailing from Serbia, the young ATP star is all set to make his mark in the world of tennis as he is about to make his appearance at the ATP Next Gen Finals. However, in an interesting revelation, he reflected on a moment that he would cherish forever, meeting Novak Djokovic.

In a recent interview, he talks about how his first interaction with the Serbian went and who was the brain behind setting up his first meeting with the 24-time Grand Slam winner. He also talks about the inspiration that he takes from the Serbian.

Medjedovic remembers meeting Novak Djokovic for the first time

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In a recent revelation, Medjedovic shared his first encounter with the Serbian legend. At just 10 years old, Medjedovic found himself at the Novak Center in Belgrade. However, he was completely unaware of the surprise that was waiting for him.

Bogdan Obradovic, the former Davis Cup captain, was the one behind the meeting. Medjedovic recalls the rush of excitement as Novak Djokovic walked in. He suggests that he had only seen him on TV until that moment. The brief exchange of words left a great mark on the young tennis enthusiast. It was a surreal experience as he got to meet the person whom he had admired and watched only on TV.

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“I was practising there and he took me to the Novak Centre. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I remember Novak coming and we met there for the first time,” he said.

“It was the first time I had seen him in person and I got to talk to him. We just had a couple of words exchanged, and I think at the time it was the biggest thing of my life that happened. I had watched him on TV and now all of a sudden I got to talk to him a little bit. It was a great opportunity,” said Medjedovic while recalling his meeting with the Serbian great.

For Medjedovic, that encounter was monumental, a moment that fueled his passion for the sport. The opportunity to speak with Djokovic, even briefly, ignited a spark within him, reaffirming his dreams and setting a remarkable milestone in his journey as a tennis player.

Also read: Why Is Novak Djokovic Obsessed With Davis Cup and Olympics?

Hamad Medjedovic reflects on how Novak Djokovic inspired him

One of the breakthrough moments of his career came recently as he is all set to play in the ATP Next Gen Finals. However, ahead of a life-changing moment, he reflects on how the Serbian inspired him to play his best game. In the interview, he suggested that he used to watch Djokovic a lot and used to take inspiration from him.

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I remember watching them constantly. As a kid it gave me a lot of motivation to start playing tennis and then to become one of them because I saw that they could do it. They’re coming from a small country, same as me, and it gave me a lot of motivation and self-belief that I could do it as well,” said Medjedovic in an interview.

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He also suggested how Djokovic hailed from a war-ridden place and went ahead to leave an ever-lasting mark on the sport. Thus, Novak Djokovic has been a constant source of motivation for the young Serbian who looks all set to emulate his idol and follow him in his footsteps. His upcoming campaign in the ATP Next Gen Finals could be a life-changing moment for him.

Watch this story: Roger Federer Fan Boy And Young Tennis Star Voices Serena Williams Opinion

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Written by:

Akshat Gaur

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One take at a time

In a world where player rivalries dominate social media conversations, I am someone who prefers to enjoy the skills showcased on the court rather than be involved in feuds over the greatness of players. Right from my early childhood, I have been engrossed by the legendary rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. It turned me into a ‘Fedal’ fan and eventually, when I graduated from college, this fandom created an interest in covering their exploits on the court.
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Edited by:

Shudh.mukherjee