Matej Sabanov (; born 25 June 1992) is a Serbian tennis player who specializes in doubles. He has a career high ATP doubles ranking of World No. 72 achieved on 18 April 2022. He also has a career high ATP singles ranking of No. 640 achieved on 20 October 2014.
He has won one ATP doubles title with his twin brother Ivan and 6 ATP Challengers and 26 ITF doubles titles. Sabanov formerly represented Croatia.
Early life and career Matej and Ivan Sabanov are twin brothers born in Subotica, a city that was part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the time, near the Croatian and Hungarian borders. They began playing tennis at the age of five or six and grew up competing alongside Serbian players such as Filip Krajinović and Dušan Lajović. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Subotica became part of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 and later Serbia in 2006.
At the age of 15, the twins moved to Osijek, Croatia, where their mother worked as a teacher. The move provided them with access to indoor courts, which were unavailable in Subotica. Around that time, they chose to represent Croatia in their professional careers. However, after their mother’s retirement, the family returned to Palić, near their hometown of Subotica.
During this period, they received strong support from Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, who closely followed their progress and allowed them to train at his Belgrade academy free of charge. They remained closely connected to Serbian players they had grown up with, and in November 2021, they announced their decision to switch national representation to Serbia. Reports suggested that the move was partly influenced by their ambition to compete in doubles for Serbia in the Davis Cup and ATP Cup, as Croatia already had an established doubles team featuring players like Mate Pavić, Nikola Mektić, and Ivan Dodig.
Professional career Sabanov made his ATP main draw debut at the 2018 Croatia Open Umag in the doubles draw as a wildcard pair partnering his twin brother Ivan.
His best career performance came in 2021 when he won his first ATP doubles title by winning the Serbia Open with his brother Ivan. They defeated Gonzalo Escobar and Ariel Behar in the final.
Sabanov represented Serbia at the 2022 ATP Cup, partnering with Nikola Ćaćić in doubles. The duo played in two ties, losing a decisive match against Chile in the third set, while winning their match against Spain in three sets.
He was part of Serbia's squad for the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers first round tie against Denmark in Copenhagen but did not feature in any matches.
ATP career finals Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runners-up) LegendGrand Slam tournaments (0–0)ATP Tour Finals (0–0)ATP Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)ATP Tour 500 Series (0–0)ATP Tour 250 Series (1–1)Titles by surfaceHard (0–0)Clay (1–1)Grass (0–0)Titles by settingOutdoor (1–1)Indoor (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin1–0Serbia Open, Serbia250 SeriesClay Ivan Sabanov Ariel Behar Gonzalo Escobar 6–3, 7–6(7–5)Loss1–1U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, United States250 SeriesClay Ivan Sabanov Matthew Ebden Max Purcell3–6, 3–6
ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
Singles: 2 (1–1) LegendATP Challenger (0–0)ITF Futures (1–1)Finals by surfaceHard (0–0)Clay (1–1)Grass (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss0–1Croatia F17, BolFuturesClay Toni Androić1–6, 1–6Win1–1Serbia F5, BelgradeFuturesClay Juan Carlos Sáez6–0, 6–2
Doubles: 80 (34–46) LegendATP Challenger (6–16)ITF Futures (28–30)Finals by surfaceHard (8–10)Clay (26–36)Grass (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss0–1Croatia F2, ZagrebFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Andrei Dăescu Florin Mergea6–4, 4–6, [4–10]Win1–1Serbia F3, BelgradeFuturesClay Ivan Bjelica Maximilian Neuchrist Nicolas Reissig6–4, 6–1Loss1–2Serbia F4, BelgradeFuturesClay Ivan Bjelica Ismar Gorčić Aldin Šetkić6–4, 2–6, [4–10]Loss1–3Serbia F7, SomborFuturesClay Ivan Bjelica Ismar Gorčić Aldin Šetkić2–6, 6–7(1–7)Loss1–4Croatia F9, OsijekFuturesClay Ivan Bjelica Tomislav Brkić Aldin Šetkić4–6, 1–6Loss1–5Croatia F11, DubrovnikFuturesClay Ivan Bjelica Toni Androić Dino Marcan3–6, 3–6Loss1–6Serbia F4, BelgradeFuturesClay Ivan Bjelica Marko Djokovic Matthew Short4–6, 4–6Loss1–7Serbia F5, BelgradeFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Djordje Djokovic Matthew Short5–7, 3–6Win2–7Serbia F7, SomborFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Dinko Halachev Gleb Sakharov4–6, 7–5, [10–5]Loss2–8Serbia F9, Novi SadFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Patrik Fabian Matteo Fago5–7, 3–6Loss2–9Croatia F8, VinkovciFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Toni Androić Tomislav Draganja6–1, 6–7(7–9), [8–10]Loss2–10Croatia F14, UmagFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Antonio Šančić Dino Marcan0–6, 7–5, [2–10]Win3–10Serbia F7, SomborFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Gavin Van Peperzeel Alexis Musialek7–6(7–5), 6–1Loss3–11Serbia F9, Novi SadFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Ilija Vucic Danilo Petrovic4–6, 3–6Win4–11Serbia F10, Novi SadFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Ilija Vucic Danilo Petrovic6–3, 3–6, [10–6]Win5–11Serbia F13, NišFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Dimitar Grabul Tomislav Jotovski6–4, 6–2Win6–11Serbia F14, SokobanjaFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Georgyi Malyshev Marcel Waloch6–2, 6–2Loss6–12Norway F1, OsloFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Patrik Rosenholm Darren Walsh4–6, 6–3, [8–10]Win7–12Norway F2, OsloFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Sander Arends Darren Walsh4–6, 6–3, [10–4]Win8–12Croatia F5, PulaFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Zdeněk Kolář Dominik Suc4–6, 6–0, [10–7]Win9–12Croatia F7, VrsarFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov A-D Carpen Tomislav Draganja6–7(3–7), 6–4, [10–8]Loss9–13Croatia F8, BolFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Grégoire Barrère Jérôme Inzerillo6–4, 5–7, [6–10]Win10–13Bosnia & Herzegovina F2, PrijedorFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Danylo Kalenichenko Juraj MasarwalkoverLoss10–14Bosnia & Herzegovina F3, BrčkoFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Victor Vlad Cornea Tudor Cristian Sulea2–6, 4–6Loss10–15Serbia F4, BelgradeFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Tomislav Draganja Ivan Bjelica5–7, 6–7(3–7)Win11–15Serbia F7, SomborFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Miki Janković Nerman Fatić6–4, 6–0Win12–15Serbia F9, Novi SadFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Fabio Mercuri Luca Pancaldi6–3, 6–0Loss12–16Serbia F10, SuboticaFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Marco Bortolotti Pietro Rondoni6–1, 2–6, [8–10]Win13–16Norway F1, OsloFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Scott Griekspoor Tallon Griekspoor6–3, 6–4Loss13–17Norway F2, OsloFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Joran Vliegen Sander Gillé7–6(7–4), 6–7(5–7), [8–10]Loss13–18Norway F3, OsloFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Joran Vliegen Sander Gillé6–7(3–7), 1–6Loss13–19Croatia F4, OpatijaFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Tomislav Draganja Nino Serdarušić4–6, 6–7(10–12)Loss13–20Bosnia & Herzegovina F4, SarajevoFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Tomislav Draganja Nino Serdarušić5–7, 3–6Win14–20Turkey F6, AntalyaFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Vadym Ursu Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi4–6, 6–0, [12–10]Win15–20Turkey F7, AntalyaFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Vadym Ursu Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi7–6(7–4), 6–2Loss15–21Croatia F2, PorečFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Zdeněk Kolář Nino Serdarušić3–6, 3–6Win16–21Hungary F5, BudapestFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Maximilian Neuchrist David Pichler6–4, 7–6(7–2)Loss16–22Czech Republic F5, PardubiceFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Vit Kopriva Jaroslav Pospíšil6–4, 1–6, [2–10]Loss16–23Serbia F2, Novi SadFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Dane Propoggia Scott Puodziunas6–7(8–10), 7–5, [9–11]Win17–23Hungary F7, KecskemétFuturesClay Enrique López Pérez Filip Bergevi Markus Eriksson7–5, 6–3Win18–23Nigeria F4, LagosFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Tom Jomby Johan Sebastien Tatlot4–6, 7–5, [10–5]Win19–23Nigeria F5, LagosFuturesHard Ivan Sabanov Chandril Sood Lakshit Sood6–3, 6–4Loss19–24Bangalore, IndiaChallengerHard Ivan Sabanov Mikhail Elgin Divij Sharan3–6, 0–6Win20–24Croatia F1, RovinjFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Javier Barranco Cosano Marco Bortolotti6–4, 6–3Loss20–25Croatia F2, PorečFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Gonzalo Escobar Bruno Sant'Anna4–6, 7–5, [9–11]Win21–25Serbia F4, SuboticaFuturesClay Ivan Sabanov Vit Kopriva Jaroslav Pospíšil6–2, 6–1Win22–25M15 Antalya, TurkeyWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Sarp Ağabigün Nicolae Frunză6–1, 7–5Win23–25M15 Antalya, TurkeyWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Louroi Martinez Damien Wenger6–1, 6–1Loss23–26M15 Aktobe, KazakhstanWorld Tennis TourHard Ivan Sabanov Niels Lootsma Aleksandr Vasilenko2–6, 6–7(5–7)Loss23–27M15 Rovinj, CroatiaWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Jeroen Vanneste Markus Eriksson5–7, 2–6Win24–27M15 Opatija, CroatiaWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Ondrej Krstev Robin Stanek6–1, 6–4Loss24–28M25 Santa Margherita, ItalyWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Marco Bortolotti Scott Puodziunas2–6, 4–6Loss24–29M25+H Jablonec, Czech RepublicWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Václav Šafránek Jan Šátral6–7(4–7), 6–0, [8–10]Win25–29M25 Casinalbo, ItalyWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Sadio Doumbia Kirill Kivattsev6–7(6–8), 6–3, [10–7]Win26–29San Benedetto, ItalyChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Sergio Galdós Juan Pablo Varillas6–4, 4–6, [10–5]Win27–29M25+H Pontedera, ItalyWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Adam Taylor Jason Taylor7–6(7–5), 6–2Loss27–30Augsburg, GermanyChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Andrei Vasilevski Igor Zelenay6–4, 4–6, [3–10]Loss27–31M25 Győr, HungaryWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Diego Hidalgo Pedro Sakamoto4–6, 1–6Loss27–32Sibiu, RomaniaChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Sadio Doumbia Fabien Reboul4–6, 6–3, [7–10]Loss27–33Quimper, FranceChallengerHard Ivan Sabanov Andrey Golubev Aleksandr Nedovyesov4–6, 2–6Loss27–34Ortisei, ItalyChallengerHard Ivan Sabanov Andre Begemann Albano Olivetti3–6, 2–6Loss27–35Prague, Czech RepublicChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Marc Polmans Sergiy Stakhovsky3–6, 4–6Loss27–36Braunschweig, GermanyChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Szymon Walków Jan Zieliński4–6, 6–4, [4–10]Win28–36Lüdenscheid, GermanyChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Denys Molchanov Aleksandr Nedovyesov6–4, 2–6, [12–10]Loss28–37Banja Luka, Bosnia and HervegovinaChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Antonio Šančić Nino Serdarušić3–6, 3–6Loss28–38Roseto degli Abruzzi, ItalyChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Franco Agamenone Manuel Guinard6–7(2–7), 6–7(3–7)Loss28–39Cordenons, ItalyChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Dustin Brown Andrea Vavassori4–6, 5–7Loss28–40San Marino, San MarinoChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Marco Bortolotti Sergio Martos Gornés4–6, 4–6Win29–40Sibiu, RomaniaChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Alexander Erler Lucas Miedler3–6, 7–5, [10–4]Loss29–41Valencia, SpainChallengerHard Ivan Sabanov Oleksii Krutykh Oriol Roca Batalla3–6, 6–7(3–7)Win30–41Waco, USChallengerHard Ivan Sabanov Evan King Mitchell Krueger6–1, 3–6, [10–4]Loss30–42Zadar, CroatiaChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Manuel Guinard Nino Serdarušić4–6, 0–6Loss30–43Olbia, Italy ChallengerHard Ivan Sabanov Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli Arjun Kadhe1–6, 3–6Win31–43Todi, Italy ChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Filip Bergevi Mick Veldheer6–4, 7–6(7–3)Win32–43Oeiras II, PortugalChallengerHard Mili Poljičak Íñigo Cervantes Mick Veldheer6–0, 6–1Loss32–44Porto, PortugalChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Szymon Kielan Filip Pieczonka2–6, 4–6Win33–44M15 Bol, Croatia World Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Alec Beckley Marko Maksimović6–4, 6–3Win34–44M15 Dubrovnik, CroatiaWorld Tennis TourClay Ivan Sabanov Emanuel Ivanišević Josip Šimundža6–2, 6–2Loss34–45M25 Bol, CroatiaWorld Tennis TourClay Admir Kalender Thomas Fancutt Ajeet Rai6–7(3–7), 3–6Loss34–46Iași, RomaniaChallengerClay Ivan Sabanov Erik Grevelius Adam Heinonen4–6, 2–6
References
External links