Hamad Medjedovic vs Stan Wawrinka Showdown: Can Serbia’s Rising Star Make History at the 2026 Montpellier Open?

Hamad Medjedović arrives in Montpellier with the momentum of a player on the cusp of a major breakthrough. The 22-year-old Serbian heads into today’s first-round showdown against three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka at the Open Occitanie 2026 determined to underline why his name is spiking across tennis searches worldwide. Rising Serbian talent sets sights on Montpellier upset Medjedović enters the Sud de France Arena ranked No. 83, just eight places shy of the career-best No. 57 he hit last August. After pushing top seed Alex de Minaur to four sets at the Australian Open and banking a solid quarter-final run in Auckland, the right-hander now faces a marquee opportunity: handing Wawrinka a rare opening-round defeat in the Swiss veteran’s farewell season. Indoor hard courts favour Medjedović’s explosive serve The quick Montpellier surface rewards first-strike tennis, a style tailored to Medjedović’s 200 km/h delivery and heavy forehand. In 2026 he is winning 63 % of total service points and holding 79 % of service games, numbers that eclipse Wawrinka’s return stats and hint at tiebreak drama later today. If the Serb can convert a fraction of the 34 % return-point success he has posted so far this year, a statement victory is within reach. Season snapshot and goals for 2026 • Career high: No. 57 (25 Aug 2025) • 2026 record: 5-3 (ATP level) • Prize money: $2.27 m career earnings Coach Viktor Troicki wants his protégé back inside the Top 60 by Miami and targeting direct entry to Roland-Garros, where Medjedović’s junior pedigree once saw him reach the boys’ semi-finals. How to watch and streaming details The Wawrinka-Medjedović clash is slated third on Centre Court (not before 19:30 local). Live coverage airs on Tennis Channel (USA), Sky Sports (UK) and TSN (Canada). ATP Tour TV subscribers can stream every point worldwide. What’s next A win would likely set Medjedović against sixth seed Alexander Bublik in the round of 16, another litmus test of his Top 50 ambitions. With fitness finally matching raw power, the Novi Pazar native looks ready to turn hype into hardware—and tonight’s primetime slot in Montpellier could be the launchpad.