Shapovalov ends long wait for second title, Djokovic presents trophy in Belgrade

  • Posted: Nov 09, 2024

After a five-year wait, Denis Shapovalov became an ATP Tour champion once again on Saturday at the Serbia Open, where he defeated Serbian Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-4 to clinch his second tour-level crown.

Shapovalov was competing in his first final since Vienna in 2022 and was chasing his second title, having triumphed in Stockholm in 2019. The lefty is up 22 spots to No. 56 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, his highest position since he was No. 45 in October 2023.

“It was extremely tough. Hamad has been playing extremely well and is a good young talent coming up,” Shapovalov said. “It is not easy playing the young guys. He served well and I was trying to do my best to get into his games and I got a bit lucky in the first set to break him. I hit a couple of lucky returns and kind of carried that momentum early into the second.”

With a beaming smile, Shapovalov dropped to the court after sealing victory before he received the trophy from Serbian legend Novak Djokovic.

The 25-year-old qualifier played aggressively throughout the 77-minute final, firing 13 aces and winning 82 per cent (28/34) of his first-serve points according to Infosys ATP Stats to cap his week in style.

Shapovalov missed the second half of last season due to injury and spent 2024 regaining his best level. The 25-year-old, who is the first Canadian to win a tour-level title this year, came through qualifying in Belgrade, where he dropped just one set to win the trophy.

“It has been a good season for me, just been healthy and back on court. It takes time to climb back up the rankings. A week like this will help a lot.”

Shapovalov’s best results in 2024 prior to this week came at ATP 500 events in Washington and Basel, where he reached quarter-finals.

Medjedovic was playing in his maiden ATP Tour final. The 21-year-old, who won the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF title last year, ends 2024 holding a 9-8 tour-level record on the season.

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