![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/Hamad-Medjedovic-Next-Gen-5097735.jpg?r=1701677264227\")
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Hamad Medjedovic enjoyed his biggest payday yet after lifting the Next Gen ATP Finals trophy. The 20-year-old took home \u00a3405,000 ($514,000) after going 5-0 in his matches throughout the week and beating Arthur Fils in the final. It\u2019s more than his previous total career prize money haul of \u00a3328k ($416k). And it will come as a huge boost to the young Serb, who has been financially supported by Novak Djokovic for the last few years.<\/p>\n
Medjedovic became the latest rising star to add his name to the list of champions at the Next Gen Finals, a 21-and-under tournament previously won by the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The world No 113 clinched victory when he beat Fils – who is ranked 77 spots higher than him – 3-4(6) 4-1 4-2 3-4(9) 4-1, with the event using a fast-four scoring format.<\/p>\n
The tournament was being held in Jeddah for the first time this year with a boosted prize money pot. It meant that the 20-year-old bagged \u00a3405k for going undefeated in the round-robin stage and winning his semi-final and final matches. The impact of the money will be huge for Medjedovic, who has so far been financially supported by Djokovic to fly around the world and compete.<\/p>\n
The 24-time Grand Slam champion started paying for his compatriot\u2019s coaches, physiotherapists, hotels and transport after a meeting with Medjedovic\u2019s father Eldin. \u201cI remember the second conversation I had with Novak ever, we spoke about specific steps in Hamad\u2019s career,\u201d the 20-year-old\u2019s dad previously told Sportal.<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news.<\/strong><\/p>\n Just in <\/strong> Taylor Fritz warns Rafael Nadal about ‘crazy’ tennis comeback[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNovak was presenting me with ideas, what to do with Hamad\u2019s game, and I remember telling him, \u2018Nole, I am sorry, but the things you are talking about cost a lot of money!\u2019 And he just keeps going about coaches, what are we going to do and how, and then says, \u2018All Hamad needs to do is to work hard, I will take care of the rest.\u2019 I told him again, \u2018Nole, it costs a lot.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Explaining why Djokovic was happy to give back following his own success, Eldin continued: \u201cAt that point, Novak told me, \u2018Edo, I am not doing this for the money! I make my money elsewhere, my role here is to help. What kind of man would I be if I would not help the kinds that deserve it, that love tennis and – on top of that – achieve good results?\u2019 I just stand there and he adds, \u2018You know what we are going to do? One day, when Hamad makes it, you are going to take someone under your wings and help in the same way.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The world No 1 stayed true to his word and assisted Medjedovic in financing both his team and his travels around the world to compete. \u201cDuring the whole year 2021, all the coaches, complete trips, hotels, plane tickets, physiotherapists, masseurs, preparations that they went to together, we did not give a dinar for anything,\u201d Medjedovic\u2019s father added.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/Djokovic-Malaga-5097739.jpg?r=1701677264359\")
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