#NextGenATP Medjedovic Wins Rafa Nadal Open, Boosts Jeddah Chances

Serbian Hamad Medjedovic added another milestone to his rapid rise Sunday on the ATP Challenger Tour.

The 20-year-old collected his third Challenger title of the season by winning the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar in Mallorca, where he downed Frenchman Harold Mayot 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in the final.

“The conditions were really tough and Harold was playing really good, especially after the first set. I’ve known him for a very long time, I knew it was going to be a hard match,” Medjedovic said. “I was feeling pressure in every game that we played. It was a really tough match, it was very windy. I’m really happy that I found my game in the end and closed the match.”

Hamad Medjedovic wins the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar.” />
^{Hamad Medjedovic wins the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar. Credit: Alvaro Diaz}

Held at the Rafa Nadal Academy, his Mallorca triumph marks Medjedovic’s fourth Challenger title. His standout season has lifted him to ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Race To Jeddah as he aims for maiden qualification to the Next Gen ATP Finals, which showcases the season’s best 21-and-under players.

Medjedovic now looks to build upon his momentum following his first hard-court title.

“It means a lot especially because this is the first one on hard courts, I’ve won three on clay,” Medjedovic said. “For sure it feels special and I’m really happy about it… I think it’s one of my best tournaments I’ve ever played on hard courts. I’m going out of this week with a lot of confidence and I will try to keep it for the rest of the season.”

At a career-high No. 119 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Medjedovic has been working with former World No. 12 Viktor Troicki since the start of this year.

“I’ve been working on many things with my coach Viktor. He’s been through the situations that I am [going] through now and he’s helping me a lot, especially with my mental game,” Medjedovic said.

In other Challenger Tour action, Thiago Seyboth Wild lifted the trophy at the Challenger Citta’ di Como in Italy, where he rallied past Pedro Martinez 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 in the final. Following his third title of the season, Seyboth Wild sets his sights on making his Top 100 debut next Monday. The Brazilian is at No. 96 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

Seyboth Wild, who is Brazil’s highest-ranked male player, also claimed Challenger titles this season in Vina del Mar and Buenos Aires.

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A breakthrough moment for Seyboth Wild came this year at Roland Garros. The 23-year-old advanced through qualifying and upset Daniil Medvedev in the opening round en route to a third-round appearance. He became the lowest-ranked player (then-No. 172) to beat a second seed in the first round at Roland Garros since 1998.

Frenchman Terence Atmane earned his maiden Challenger crown Sunday when he triumphed at the Zhangjiagang International Challenger in China. Despite competing in his first Challenger final, the 21-year-old showed no signs of nerves, cruising past Mikalai Haliak 6-1, 6-2 in just 43 minutes after winning 22 of 22 points behind his first serve.

The lefty Atmane is up to a career-high No. 168 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

Terence Atmane wins the Zhangjiagang International Challenger.” />
^{Terence Atmane in action during Sunday’s final in Zhangjiagang. Credit: Zhangjiagang International Challenger}