A tennis player at Wimbledon, whose career is supported by Novak Djokovic, collapsed in pain after suffering two severe falls in consecutive points during his first-round match.
The dramatic incident forced him to retire from the match in shocking scenes.
Hamad Medjedovic was competing against Sebastian Ofner in the first round at Wimbledon, but had to withdraw midway through the second set.
The 21-year-old Medjedovic`s first painful slip occurred at the back of Court 8 during a crucial point in the first-set tie-break. He held a set point at 8-7 when his legs buckled.
Attempting a split-step to change direction, he ended up in an agonizing split. His tennis racket flew, and the world No. 68 writhed in pain.
The umpire immediately came down to check on Medjedovic and called for a physio. A ball girl offered him shade with an umbrella. Ofner, his opponent, also came to check on him, while Medjedovic`s concerned team watched from the stands.
Following a lengthy treatment break with a physio, Medjedovic limped back to his chair but decided to continue. Astonishingly, on the very next point, he suffered another bad slip, his left ankle buckling on the fresh grass.
He lost the next point, which cost him the first set, and then left the court for a medical time-out.
Despite returning after a 14-minute break, Medjedovic was clearly struggling. Trailing 3-1 in the second set, he eventually decided to retire, shaking hands with his opponent.
Medjedovic grew up watching his compatriot Djokovic and even trained with the legendary player at his tennis center when he was 16.
Djokovic mentored the young player and provided significant financial support to launch his career. The 24-time Grand Slam champion covered his training, transport, and support costs.
The investment proved valuable when the young player won the ATP Next Gen Finals in December 2023, earning over £370,000 as the undefeated champion.
