Hamad Medjedovic didn't hold back after his intense clash with Joao Fonseca at the Italian Open, making it clear that the Brazilian's passionate supporters left a lasting impression—though perhaps not the kind Fonseca's camp would have hoped for.
The 22-year-old Serb is no stranger to the spotlight himself. After all, he won the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2023 and has received glowing praise from none other than Novak Djokovic. But even that hasn't generated the same level of buzz as Fonseca, who has already drawn early comparisons to Roger Federer thanks to his explosive game and growing fanbase.
Wherever Fonseca plays, Brazilian fans show up in full force, and Rome was no exception. But after Medjedovic pulled off a gritty 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(1) victory, he couldn't resist addressing the crowd's one-sided energy.
The match was a true rollercoaster. Medjedovic dropped the opening set, then stormed back to take a commanding double-break lead in the third. But just when it seemed over, Fonseca mounted a stunning comeback—and the roaring crowd only fueled the drama. At one point, a visibly frustrated Medjedovic turned to the umpire and said, "Tell them to shut up and let me serve. I'll play."
Despite the tension, Medjedovic kept his composure, regrouped, and closed out the match in a decisive tiebreak. And in a twist, he later admitted that the crowd's support for Fonseca actually helped him find another gear.
"Well, it was a rollercoaster as you can see," Medjedovic told Tennis TV. "I was up with a double break—it doesn't usually happen that I get broken twice when I'm about to close the match. It was not easy to go through those moments, but the crowd helped me a lot. His fans helped me a lot."
He added with a wry smile: "They were... I'll not comment on it. But they helped me a lot. I think I was very, as some would say, locked in after being down 6-5 in the third, so I just kept quiet. I just wanted to give my best, and that's it. Really happy to be through."
This win is just the latest chapter in Medjedovic's impressive resurgence. Back in March, he had slipped to world No. 115, but a strong run that includes his sixth ATP Challenger title and a semi-final appearance in Barcelona has him knocking on the door of a career-high ranking. He hit No. 57 last August, and after this victory, he's sitting at No. 60 in the live rankings.
Medjedovic has never advanced past the third round of a Masters 1000 event, but with momentum on his side and a gritty mentality forged in the fire of Rome's rowdy stands, this could be his best chance yet. Next up: Felix Auger-Aliassime—and you can bet Medjedovic will be ready for whatever the crowd throws at him.