Hamad Medjedovic won the ATP Next Gen Championships in Jeddah(!), plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.
The week in review:
I really haven't paid much attention to the previous incarnations of the Next Gen ATP Finals, mainly because I find its mini-set format to be silly. (Because they play best of five, the matches can still go on for hours, so why not just play a real best of three?) But I must confess I was pretty captivated this time around, largely because so many of the boys were so brawny this year. (Dominic Stricker, anyone? A bag over his head and you're set for the night!)
In the end, two of the biggest and best-looking guys -- Hamad Medjedovic and Arthur Fils -- wound up battling it out in the final, both having arrived undefeated. The match was explosive -- both visually and technically.
Did you get a load of Arthur's prematch routine?
Even though Fils is the much-high-ranked player and certainly a rare talent, I was stunned by Medjeovic's game, which reminded me of a cross between Juan Martin del Potro's strokes and ability to create power and angles out of nothing and Novak Djokovic's court coverage and ability to weather the storm. That he's Serbian and is receiving financial (and emotional) support from the World No. 1 doesn't bode well for those who want this Balkan era to end.
The 20-year-old played aggressively in front of a packed crowd in King Abdullah Sports City (sigh; this is really happening), where he received loud support from local fans. That they rooted for him isn't a surprise -- he's a Bosniak -- but I thought it was incredibly tacky for the crowd to applaud Fils's faults early in the match -- which was basically a kids' exhibition.
Final score: Hamad beat the 19-year-old Frenchman 3-4(6), 4-1, 4-2, 3-4(9), 4-1 after two hours and 11 minutes.
I, on the other hand, could go for 24 majors of this!
Fuckability index: 10 vs. 10
Elsewhere around the net:
Croats Borna Gojo and Noa Kovacic have major flex appeal
Lorenzo Musetti is about to become a(n official) Daddy
Holger Rune's legs don't just happen
I was taken aback by this photo of Ben Lock ...
so this made sense!
Ben would certainly be forgiven for having "felt cute" ...
Cristian Garin considering another sport?
Pretty boy Ryan Harrison
Miles Bugby is at it again
Jan-Michael Gambill
Marcelo Demoliner and his fun shorts
Nothing basic about Fabien Reboul & Co.
Robert Cardenas in action
And now he's branching out into thongs
Neal Skupski turns 34
Yes, please
Where do I board the S.S. Guido Andreozzi?
Cleans up well, too
Or the S.S. Enzo?
Do Andrea Vavassori and the guys need a towel boy?
Now I'm getting turned on by Simpsons characters? lol
Karen Khachanov
Andrew Paulson and the luckiest woman alive?
Marton Fucsovics vs. 100 kg
Yannick Hanfmann
and his leggy workout buddy
Cam Norrie & friends
Sam Groth is still a big man
Borna Coric is back to titillating the masses
Jack Draper
Arthur Bouquier & Co.
Lust to love: Billy Harris
Nicolas Moreno in action
Alex Robein, world's sexiest umpire
Not really sure what this Macau exhibition was all about, but players sure like to compete when they're supposed to be off from the "way too long" tennis season
Johnny Millman's wedding season ...
James Duckworth and his huge ass got married
J.J. Wolf and Jack Nicklaus
I'd get in Marcelo Arevalo Gonzalez's van
I hope Alexander Zverev's new gal pal is good at dodging punches
Thor seems more like someone his own size
Vasek Pospisil and the Bryan brothers
And last but not least: Daniil Medvedev is looking very relaxed in the Maldives
This year's Next Gen Finals has definitely the best looking boys. Aside from the final 2, Luca Nardi is my current Italian obsession.
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