Hamad Medjedovic was not best pleased with Joao Fonseca’s supporters during their match at the Italian Open.
Medjedovic is just 22 years old and is a talented young prospect, having won the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2023, and has received support from his compatriot Novak Djokovic.
However, that is nothing compared to the hype surrounding Fonseca, who has even been compared to Roger Federer.
Fonseca has huge support from Brazilian fans at most tournaments he plays, but this did not go down well with Medjedovic, who commented on his opponent’s support after beating him.
Hamad Medjedovic claims Joao Fonseca’s fans helped him
Medjedovic had fought back after losing the first set against Fonseca to lead the deciding set by a double break.
However, the Serbian then found himself serving to stay in the match after Fonseca fought back, and Medjedovic was audibly unhappy with the crowd’s support of his opponent.
Medjedovic was heard telling the umpire, “Tell them to shut up and let me serve. I’ll play.”
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After recomposing to beat Fonseca 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(1), Medjedovic claimed that Fonseca’s fans actually helped him win the match.
“Well it was a rollercoaster as you can see,” Medjedovic told Tennis TV. “I was up with a double break, it doesn’t usually happen that I get broken twice when I’m about to close the match. It was not easy to go through them moments, but the crowd helped me a lot, his fans helped me a lot.
“They were, I’ll not comment on it, but they helped me a lot. I think I was very, as some would say, locked in after being down 6-5 in the third so I was just quiet. I wanted to give my best and that’s it, and I’m really happy to be through.”
Hamad Medjedovic is now one win away from reaching his career-high ranking
Medjedovic was ranked as low as world number 115 in March, but after winning his sixth ATP Challenger title and reaching the Barcelona Open semifinals he is now just one win away from reaching his career-high ranking.
The 22-year-old reached his career-high ranking of world number 57 in August last year, and Medjedovic is now at number 60 in the live rankings.
Medjedovic has never reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament before, but he now has a huge opportunity to do so.
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Following the exits of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Fonseca and Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and the withdrawal of Valentin Vacherot, there are no longer any seeded players remaining in Medjedovic’s quarter of the draw.
Medjedovic is the second-highest ranked player in this section, and he has a winning head-to-head against his next opponent in Mariano Navone.
If he is able to beat Navone for a second time, Medjedovic is confirmed to reach his career-high ranking.
