The young Serb Hamad Medjedovic reached the quarter-final at the ATP 250 event in Marseille. Hamad faced the 2018 champion Karen Khachanov in the second round and produced a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory in an hour and 12 minutes.
Medjedovic took 19 points more than his rival. The Serb performed better behind the first and second serve and took charge in the pivotal points. Hamad defended four of five break points and stole half od the return points.
Khachanov struggled behind the first and second serve. He played against nine break points and suffered four breaks to hit the exit door earlier than expected.
Roaring into the QFs 🦁
Look what it means as @MedjedovicHamad posts a 6-3 6-3 victory 🆚 Khachanov @Open13 | #O13Provence pic.twitter.com/r5JDkQ8BW5
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 12, 2025
The young gun landed 18 winners and 22 unforced errors. The Russian could not follow that pace. Karen struggled to find the rhythm and finished the duel with nine winners and 32 unforced mistakes on his tally. Hamad hit more service winners and dominated from the baseline.
Karen Khachanov & Hamad Medjedovic, Marseille 2025© Stream screenshot
The Serb secured the third game of the duel with a forehand winner and welcomed the rival’s forehand error in the next one to earn a break and gain confidence. Medjedovic cemented the break with a hold at love in game five and landed a service winner two games later for 5-2.
The young gun attacked on the return in game eight and painted a forehand winner for a set point. Karen denied it before Hamad seized the second with a powerful forehand winner, opening a 6-2 advantage in half an hour.
Hamad Medjedovic, Marseille 2025© Stream screenshot
The former champion hit a loose forehand in the second game of the second set, losing serve and smashing his racquet. Medjedovic experienced his only shaky service game in the next one. He defended four break points before hitting a costly double fault on the fifth.
They served well in the next four games, and the Serb moved 4-3 up with an ace. Khachanov sprayed errors in the eighth game and faced three break points. He netted a routine backhand on the second, losing serve and falling 5-3 behind.
Hamad served for the win in game nine and held at 30 with a forehand winner, sealing the deal and moving into the last eight.
Tennis World USA