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World no. 110 Hamad Medjedovic claimed the sixth edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals. Hamad won all five matches in Jeddah, facing the top seed Arthur Fils in the final and earning a 3-4, 4-1, 4-2, 3-4, 4-1 victory in two hours and 11 minutes.
The Serb played impressive tennis in sets he won, leaving the better-ranked rival behind and sealing the deal with a strong display in the decider. Medjedovic denied all four break points and delivered three breaks from four opportunities, overpowering Fils in the decisive moments despite losing two tie breaks.
Hamad fired 38 winners and 21 unforced errors, overpowering Arthur's 24-23 ratio. They fired 80 unreturned serves, keeping the points short and attacking. The Frenchman fired an ace in the encounter's first game, and the Serb responded with a booming serve in the next one for 1-1.
There was nothing to separate them until the tie break, and Hamad moved 6-4 up with another powerful serve.
Hamad Medjedovic is the sixth Next Gen ATP Finals champion.
Arthur stayed calm and defended them before earning a set point with a service winner at 6-6.
Hamad sprayed a forehand error at 6-7, losing the opener in 29 minutes and smashing his racquet angrily. Medjedovic made a fresh start in the second set, serving well and keeping the pressure on his rival. The Serb found his A-game on the return in the second game, breaking the Frenchman at 15 and building the advantage.
Hamad served for the set at 3-1 and landed an unreturned serve, leveling the score at 1-1 after 53 minutes. With a boost on his side, Medjedovic claimed all 12 points behind the initial shot in the third set, keeping the pressure on the other side.
Arthur netted a forehand in the first game, falling behind and struggling on serve again at 0-2. Hamad missed a break point but did not need it, holding at love at 3-1 and wrapping up the set in 21 minutes. Tables turned in the fourth set, with Fils serving well and Medjedovic feeling the pressure for the first time.
The Serb denied four break points in the second and fourth games before holding at love in game six to introduce a tie break. It turned into a cracker, with 20 points and two match points for Hamad at 6-5 and 8-7. The Frenchman saved them and converted the third set point at 10-9 with a booming serve, forcing a decider after an hour and 50 minutes.
Medjedovic started all over in the final set, dropping one point in his games and challenging his rival to follow that pace. Hamad grabbed a decisive break in the second game after Arthur's backhand error, moving 2-0 up and closer to the finish line.
The Serb created a 3-0 gap with a holf at love after an ace and served for the title at 3-1. Medjedovic fired an ace down the T line, holding at 15 and celebrating the title.