Belgrade Open Predictions: Hamad Medjedovic Vs Denis Shapovalov – Saturday 9 November 2024

Let’s have a look at all the career, performance and head-to-head stats for the match and find out if Hamad Medjedovic or Denis Shapovalov is expected to win.

Match Details:

Hamad Medjedovic vs Denis Shapovalov – Saturday 9 November 2024 – Belgrade Open – Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia

Hamad Medjedovic vs Denis Shapovalov Head-to-Head, Preview, Stats & Pick:

Head To Head First Meeting.

In a highly anticipated match-up, Serbia’s rising star, Hamad Medjedovic, will face off against Canadian talent Denis Shapovalov for the first time on the ATP Tour. Medjedovic, 21 years old and ranked World No. 156, has been making waves in the tennis world with an impressive performance this year. With a career-high ranking of No. 102 and a record of 9-7 in 2024, including a final appearance in Belgrade, Medjedovic is ready to showcase his skills against Shapovalov.

Medjedovic’s journey to this point has been nothing short of impressive. Breaking into the Top 200 in March 2023, he achieved his career-high ranking in October of the same year after reaching the semifinals in Astana. In a breakthrough performance, he came through the qualifying rounds and shocked the tennis world by defeating 2015 champion Dominic Thiem en route to his first ATP Tour semifinal in Gstaad in 2023.

The Serbian talent also made his ATP Tour debut at the 2021 Belgrade-2 and secured his first tour-level win at the 2023 Davis Cup against Durasovic. Additionally, Medjedovic has proven himself on the Grand Slam stage, qualifying for the main draws at Roland Garros in 2023 and 2024, Wimbledon in 2023, and the US Open in 2024.

Not only has Medjedovic shown promise on the tour, but he has also had significant success in the Challenger circuit. With a record of 44-30, including four wins in finals, he joined the ranks of Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic as the third Serbian teenager to win three Challenger titles. These victories came at the 2022 Luedenscheid, 2023 Szekesfehervar, and 2023 Mauthausen tournaments.

In his junior career, Medjedovic achieved a career-high ranking of No. 9. His impressive performances at the 2019 Berlin Grade 1 and 2019 New Delhi Grade 2, where he won titles without dropping a set, propelled him to this achievement.

Now, Medjedovic finds himself in his first ATP Tour final, poised to become the second Serbian man to win a tour-level title this season. The only other Serbian to achieve this feat in 2024 is none other than the legendary Novak Djokovic, who won the Paris Olympics. Additionally, Medjedovic has the opportunity to become the first Serbian man to win a title on hard courts since Djokovic’s victory at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals.

Ranked No. 156 on the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Medjedovic has the chance to make a significant leap up the rankings with a title win. Currently sitting at No. 109, he could potentially reach as high as No. 94, securing his Top 100 debut on Monday.

In the 2024 ATP Tour, there have been 11 first-time champions, and Medjedovic aims to become the 12th. This season, players attempting to win their first ATP Tour title have faced a challenging record, with only 11 out of 29 players succeeding. Medjedovic will look to add his name to this exclusive list of breakthrough champions alongside Bonzi.

If Medjedovic were to claim victory, he would become the second-lowest-ranked ATP Tour champion in 2024, currently standing at No. 156. The only player holding a lower ranking to achieve this feat is Marin Cilic, who won in Hangzhou at No. 777.

On the other side of the net, Denis Shapovalov, a 25-year-old Canadian with a current ranking of No. 78, poses a formidable challenge for Medjedovic. Shapovalov has an impressive career, highlighted by reaching the quarterfinals at the US Open in 2020, becoming the first Canadian men’s singles quarterfinalist in the tournament’s history. This achievement also earned him a place in the esteemed Top 10 rankings, joining compatriot Milos Raonic.

Shapovalov’s success extends to the Grand Slam stage, where he reached his first Slam semifinal at Wimbledon in 2021. Along the way, he defeated two-time champion Andy Murray and earned hard-fought five-set victories over Philipp Kohlschreiber and Karen Khachanov.

Furthermore, Shapovalov has enjoyed success at ATP Masters 1000 events, reaching the final in Paris in 2019 and four other semifinals. His breakout moment came in 2017 at the Montreal Masters, where he upset World No. 2 Rafael Nadal and became the youngest semifinalist in series history at the tender age of 18.

Shapovalov has also been a key player in Canadian team successes, contributing to their victories in the ATP Cup and Davis Cup finals in 2022. His strong start to 2024 has seen him climb 17 spots in the rankings to reach No. 61 on the PIF ATP Live Rankings. With a title win, he could climb even higher to No. 56, his highest ranking since October of the previous year.

As we delve into the statistics of the two players, we can discern some intriguing insights. Medjedovic has showcased his prowess on the serving front, with an impressive 40 aces to his name. He also boasts a solid 72% first-serve percentage, winning 78% of those points. In the second-serve category, Medjedovic has won 67% of points.

On the other hand, Shapovalov has accumulated 33 aces and maintained a 67% first-serve percentage. His first-serve points won percentage stands at an impressive 84%, higher than Medjedovic’s. However, Shapovalov’s second-serve points won percentage dips slightly to 49%.

Both players have excelled in holding their own service games, with Medjedovic winning an impressive 94% of his service games and Shapovalov close behind at 98%. When it comes to saving break points, Shapovalov has the edge with a 90% success rate, while Medjedovic stands at 82%.

In the return department, Shapovalov has shown his effectiveness. He has won 40% of his first-serve return points and 56% of his second-serve return points, highlighting his aggressive style of play. Medjedovic has struggled slightly in this aspect, winning 30% of his first-serve return points and 50% of his second-serve return points.

With regards to converting break points, Shapovalov has the advantage, converting 53% of his opportunities compared to Medjedovic’s 38%.

In summary, the clash between Medjedovic and Shapovalov promises to be a thrilling encounter. Medjedovic’s breakthrough season, coupled with the opportunity to make history for Serbian tennis, provides an intriguing narrative. On the other hand, Shapovalov’s experience at the top level and impressive performances in previous finals make him a formidable opponent.

The Belgrade final will undoubtedly test the skills and mental fortitude of both players. As the battle on the pristine hard courts of the Belgrade Arena unfolds, tennis enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the outcome. Only time will tell who will lift the trophy and etch their name in the annals of tennis history.

Hamad Medjedovic vs Denis Shapovalov Prediction:

I believe Hamad Medjedovic will win in straight sets.
The Stevegtennis.com prediction algorithm has a much better success rate in picking
match winners than me!

So check out who it picks for this match here:
Stevegtennis.com Hamad Medjedovic vs Denis Shapovalov prediction.