Respected tennis coach Magnus Norman has lauded Novak Djokovic for helping rising ATP star and fellow Serbian Hamad Medjedovic by supporting his career.

The former world No 2, coach of three-time Major champion Stan Wawrinka, described Djokovic’s help for Medjedovic as “an act of kindness and giving back without wanting publicity or PR.”

Medjedovic won all five matches as he triumphed at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah last week, downing top seed and favourite Arthur Fils in Saturday’s final.

The 20-year-old – who is currently ranked 113th in the world, having reached a career-high position of world No 102 in October – is seen as one of the brightest talents on the ATP Tour.

Medjedovic recently detailed the support he has received from 24-time Grand Slam champion and Serbian icon Djokovic in his career to date.

“Novak Djokovic has been helping me out financially. Giving me whatever I need for my career. He covered it all. He just helped me out when I needed it and [is] still helping me out in all types of ways. I’m glad he’s there for me,” he said in quotes reported on X / Twitter.

In a post on X / Twitter, Norman responded to a tweet sharing quotes from Medjedovic’s father Eldin discussing Djokovic’s help.

“In a year very much filled with aggression, hate and violence in this world 😢 this is wonderful to read. An act of kindness and giving back without wanting publicity or PR. Well done @DjokerNole 👏🏼,” wrote the 47-year-old Swede.

Medjedovic’s father, Eldin, explained the role Djokovic has played in his son’s career and expressed his gratitude for the world No 1 in an interview with Sportal last year.

“I remember the second conversation I had with Novak ever, we spoke about specific steps in Hamad’s career,” he said.

“Novak was presenting me with ideas, what to do with Hamad’s game, and I remember telling him: ‘Nole, I am sorry, but the things you are talking about cost a lot of money!’

“And he just keeps going about coaches, what are we going to do and how, and then says: ‘All Hamad needs to do is to work hard, I will take care of the rest’. I told him again: ‘Nole, it costs a lot.’

“At that point, Novak told me: ‘Edo, I am not doing this for the money! I make my money elsewhere, my role here is to help. What kind of man would I be if I would not help the kinds that deserve it, that love tennis and – on top of that – achieve good results?’

“I just stand there and he adds: ‘You know what we are going to do? One day, when Hamad makes it, you are going to take someone under your wings and help in the same way.’

“We did not spend a dime, and believe me, that is not a small amount in the world of tennis, on the contrary.

“Imagine, the best player in the world is calling my kid to work together in the preseason, it is like [Lionel] Messi or [Cristiano] Ronaldo telling you: ‘Let’s play some football’, or: ‘Let me know if you need anything.’

“These kinds of things are rare in today’s world, but thank God there are still people who don’t care only about money, but about the human side of things.”