Introduction
As with any match including Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the serve was the main character in his quarter-final matchup against Hamad Medjedovic. For the majority of the first set, the 22-year-old Serbian looked to be the better player. Both players ended the set with an 81% win rate on first service points, but this number fails to capture the excellence of the Medjedovic return. He positioned himself behind the baseline, sacrificing his 6 ft. 2 frame to block the 145 mph fastball launched at his chest. Up 5-1 in the first set tiebreak, Medjedovic’s mind betrayed his skill. Tennis momentum is unpredictable, and for Medjedovic, the shift is instantaneous. The collapse that followed was one of missed chances, double faults, and poor decisions that let Mpetshi Perricard wrestle the set, and the match, out of Medjedovic’s hands.
Baseline Tactics
Hamad Medjedovic started his campaign against the Frenchman with a gladiator-like mentality. If Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s serve was a raging Toro Bravo, Medjedovic stood like a matador with a sword, poised to strike any ball that dared cross his path. The rallies were executed in a similar fashion. If Medjedovic forced the ball deep on return, Mpetshi Perricard retreated into a neutral position, giving the Serbian an opportunity to unleash on his forehand.
Due to the one-handed nature of the Mpetshi Perricard backhand, Medjedovic could force errors from the backhand side. Medjedovic particularly exploited this weakness on serve. Although Medjedovic hit more winners on his forehand side, one could argue that Medjedovic was too comfortable with crosscourt trading, rarely opting to go down-the-line into the weaker Mpetshi Perricard groundstroke. Mpetshi Perricard’s forehand is similarly dominant, forcing Medjedovic to play lower percentage shots right into the corners to regain control of the rally.
In the second set, Medjedovic went big on his forehand to avoid playing longer rallies. While Mpetshi Perricard only grew in confidence, the first-set tiebreak drained the Serbian of his remaining fight. Mpetshi Perricard ended up winning 21/35 baseline points throughout the match in comparison to Medjedovic’s 14/35, a massive disparity in a matchup where both forehands are equally as heavy.
Use of Variation
Medjedovic’s net play was particularly effective in the first set. He won 80% of his points at the net in comparison to Mpetshi Perricard’s 62%. Coming towards the net proved effective against the 6 ft. 8 Frenchman, whose legs struggled to reach the ball from Medjedovic’s angles and volleys. As the match wore on and Medjedovic grew more fatigued (both mentally and physically), he started incorporating more drop-shots into his rallies. This tactic was not only easily read by Mpetshi Perricard, but showcased a desperation to finish points early.
Unlike Medjedovic, Mpetshi Perricard used the variation in his game to perfection. Mpetshi Perricard was selective with his drop-shots, dragging Medjedovic to the net after a long rally to further wear him out. He mixed in the serve-and-volley at key moments throughout the match, maintaining its surprise while evading predictability.
Conclusion
It is difficult to analyze this match without mentioning Medjedovic’s mental collapse from 5-1 up in the first-set tiebreak before losing the set. The warning signs were flashing from the eighth game, where the Serbian’s bravado slipped for a moment before his serve rescued him from immediate danger. Throughout the later stages of the tiebreak, the Serbian’s serve was nowhere to be found. He found himself with numerous chances to put the set to bed, both on serve and throughout rallies, but his forehand grew tight and erratic and his decision making became clouded with desperation. At 8-9, Medjedovic hit the net-cord twice, prompting a let on both first and second serve, before double faulting to gift Mpetshi Perricard the set.
Following the conclusion of the first set, and a close-call for his racked head, Medjedovic tried to calm himself with an extended bathroom break. The Serbian was unable to force his mind back into the match, dropping his first two service games of the second set and appearing apathetic on the return. The game ended quickly, with Medjedovic holding serve twice before Mpetshi Perricard put an emphatic end to a battle already lost. Mpetshi Perricard’s permafrost shell was unbothered by the volatile heat of the Serbian. This, more than anything, is what won him a place in the semi-finals.