# Matej Sabanov

Matej Sabanov (Serbian Cyrillic: Матеј Сабанов; 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)

* Legend
* Grand 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 surface
* Hard (0–0)
* Clay (1–1)
* Grass (0–0)
* Titles by setting
* Outdoor (1–1)
* Indoor (0–0)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | Apr 2021 | Serbia Open, Serbia | 250 Series | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Ariel Behar Gonzalo Escobar | 6–3, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| Loss | 1–1 | Apr 2022 | U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, United States | 250 Series | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Matthew Ebden Max Purcell | 3–6, 3–6 |

## ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
### Singles: 2 (1–1)

* Legend
* ATP Challenger (0–0)
* ITF Futures (1–1)
* Finals by surface
* Hard (0–0)
* Clay (1–1)
* Grass (0–0)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Dec 2013 | Croatia F17, Bol | Futures | Clay | Toni Androić | 1–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Jul 2014 | Serbia F5, Belgrade | Futures | Clay | Juan Carlos Sáez | 6–0, 6–2 |

### Doubles: 75 (32–43)

* Legend
* ATP Challenger (6–14)
* ITF Futures (26–29)
* Finals by surface
* Hard (8–10)
* Clay (24–33)
* Grass (0–0)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Feb 2012 | Croatia F2, Zagreb | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Andrei Dăescu Florin Mergea | 6–4, 4–6, [4–10] |
| Win | 1–1 | Jul 2012 | Serbia F3, Belgrade | Futures | Clay | Ivan Bjelica | Maximilian Neuchrist Nicolas Reissig | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Loss | 1–2 | Jul 2012 | Serbia F4, Belgrade | Futures | Clay | Ivan Bjelica | Ismar Gorčić Aldin Šetkić | 6–4, 2–6, [4–10] |
| Loss | 1–3 | Aug 2012 | Serbia F7, Sombor | Futures | Clay | Ivan Bjelica | Ismar Gorčić Aldin Šetkić | 2–6, 6–7$^{(1–7)}$ |
| Loss | 1–4 | Sep 2012 | Croatia F9, Osijek | Futures | Clay | Ivan Bjelica | Tomislav Brkić Aldin Šetkić | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 1–5 | Oct 2012 | Croatia F11, Dubrovnik | Futures | Clay | Ivan Bjelica | Toni Androić Dino Marcan | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 1–6 | Jul 2013 | Serbia F4, Belgrade | Futures | Clay | Ivan Bjelica | Marko Djokovic Matthew Short | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1–7 | Jul 2013 | Serbia F5, Belgrade | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Djordje Djokovic Matthew Short | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 2–7 | Aug 2013 | Serbia F7, Sombor | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Dinko Halachev Gleb Sakharov | 4–6, 7–5, [10–5] |
| Loss | 2–8 | Aug 2013 | Serbia F9, Novi Sad | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Patrik Fabian Matteo Fago | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 2–9 | Aug 2013 | Croatia F8, Vinkovci | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Toni Androić Tomislav Draganja | 6–1, 6–7$^{(7–9)}$, [8–10] |
| Loss | 2–10 | Nov 2013 | Croatia F14, Umag | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Antonio Šančić Dino Marcan | 0–6, 7–5, [2–10] |
| Win | 3–10 | Aug 2014 | Serbia F7, Sombor | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Gavin Van Peperzeel Alexis Musialek | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–1 |
| Loss | 3–11 | Aug 2014 | Serbia F9, Novi Sad | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Ilija Vucic Danilo Petrovic | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 4–11 | Aug 2014 | Serbia F10, Novi Sad | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Ilija Vucic Danilo Petrovic | 6–3, 3–6, [10–6] |
| Win | 5–11 | Sep 2014 | Serbia F13, Niš | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Dimitar Grabul Tomislav Jotovski | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 6–11 | Sep 2014 | Serbia F14, Sokobanja | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Georgyi Malyshev Marcel Waloch | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 6–12 | Nov 2014 | Norway F1, Oslo | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Patrik Rosenholm Darren Walsh | 4–6, 6–3, [8–10] |
| Win | 7–12 | Nov 2014 | Norway F2, Oslo | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Sander Arends Darren Walsh | 4–6, 6–3, [10–4] |
| Win | 8–12 | Mar 2015 | Croatia F5, Pula | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Zdeněk Kolář Dominik Suc | 4–6, 6–0, [10–7] |
| Win | 9–12 | Apr 2015 | Croatia F7, Vrsar | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | A-D Carpen Tomislav Draganja | 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 6–4, [10–8] |
| Loss | 9–13 | May 2015 | Croatia F8, Bol | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Grégoire Barrère Jérôme Inzerillo | 6–4, 5–7, [6–10] |
| Win | 10–13 | May 2015 | Bosnia & Herzegovina F2, Prijedor | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Danylo Kalenichenko Juraj Masar | walkover |
| Loss | 10–14 | May 2015 | Bosnia & Herzegovina F3, Brčko | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Victor Vlad Cornea Tudor Cristian Sulea | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 10–15 | Jul 2015 | Serbia F4, Belgrade | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Tomislav Draganja Ivan Bjelica | 5–7, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$ |
| Win | 11–15 | Aug 2015 | Serbia F7, Sombor | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Miki Janković Nerman Fatić | 6–4, 6–0 |
| Win | 12–15 | Aug 2015 | Serbia F9, Novi Sad | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Fabio Mercuri Luca Pancaldi | 6–3, 6–0 |
| Loss | 12–16 | Aug 2015 | Serbia F10, Subotica | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Marco Bortolotti Pietro Rondoni | 6–1, 2–6, [8–10] |
| Win | 13–16 | Oct 2015 | Norway F1, Oslo | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Scott Griekspoor Tallon Griekspoor | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 13–17 | Nov 2015 | Norway F2, Oslo | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Joran Vliegen Sander Gillé | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, [8–10] |
| Loss | 13–18 | Nov 2015 | Norway F3, Oslo | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Joran Vliegen Sander Gillé | 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 1–6 |
| Loss | 13–19 | Mar 2016 | Croatia F4, Opatija | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Tomislav Draganja Nino Serdarušić | 4–6, 6–7$^{(10–12)}$ |
| Loss | 13–20 | Jun 2016 | Bosnia & Herzegovina F4, Sarajevo | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Tomislav Draganja Nino Serdarušić | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 14–20 | Feb 2017 | Turkey F6, Antalya | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Vadym Ursu Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi | 4–6, 6–0, [12–10] |
| Win | 15–20 | Feb 2017 | Turkey F7, Antalya | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Vadym Ursu Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–2 |
| Loss | 15–21 | Mar 2017 | Croatia F2, Poreč | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Zdeněk Kolář Nino Serdarušić | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 16–21 | Jun 2017 | Hungary F5, Budapest | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Maximilian Neuchrist David Pichler | 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–2)}$ |
| Loss | 16–22 | Jul 2017 | Czech Republic F5, Pardubice | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Vit Kopriva Jaroslav Pospíšil | 6–4, 1–6, [2–10] |
| Loss | 16–23 | Aug 2017 | Serbia F2, Novi Sad | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Dane Propoggia Scott Puodziunas | 6–7$^{(8–10)}$, 7–5, [9–11] |
| Win | 17–23 | Sep 2017 | Hungary F7, Kecskemét | Futures | Clay | Enrique López Pérez | Filip Bergevi Markus Eriksson | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Win | 18–23 | Oct 2017 | Nigeria F4, Lagos | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Tom Jomby Johan Sebastien Tatlot | 4–6, 7–5, [10–5] |
| Win | 19–23 | Oct 2017 | Nigeria F5, Lagos | Futures | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Chandril Sood Lakshit Sood | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 19–24 | Nov 2017 | Bangalore, India | Challenger | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Mikhail Elgin Divij Sharan | 3–6, 0–6 |
| Win | 20–24 | Mar 2018 | Croatia F1, Rovinj | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Javier Barranco Cosano Marco Bortolotti | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 20–25 | Mar 2018 | Croatia F2, Poreč | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Gonzalo Escobar Bruno Sant'Anna | 4–6, 7–5, [9–11] |
| Win | 21–25 | Sep 2018 | Serbia F4, Subotica | Futures | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Vit Kopriva Jaroslav Pospíšil | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Win | 22–25 | Jan 2019 | M15 Antalya, Turkey | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Sarp Ağabigün Nicolae Frunză | 6–1, 7–5 |
| Win | 23–25 | Feb 2019 | M15 Antalya, Turkey | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Louroi Martinez Damien Wenger | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Loss | 23–26 | Feb 2019 | M15 Aktobe, Kazakhstan | World Tennis Tour | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Niels Lootsma Aleksandr Vasilenko | 2–6, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$ |
| Loss | 23–27 | Mar 2019 | M15 Rovinj, Croatia | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Jeroen Vanneste Markus Eriksson | 5–7, 2–6 |
| Win | 24–27 | Mar 2019 | M15 Opatija, Croatia | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Ondrej Krstev Robin Stanek | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 24–28 | Apr 2019 | M25 Santa Margherita, Italy | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Marco Bortolotti Scott Puodziunas | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 24–29 | May 2019 | M25+H Jablonec, Czech Republic | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Václav Šafránek Jan Šátral | 6–7$^{(4–7)}$, 6–0, [8–10] |
| Win | 25–29 | Jul 2019 | M25 Casinalbo, Italy | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Sadio Doumbia Kirill Kivattsev | 6–7$^{(6–8)}$, 6–3, [10–7] |
| Win | 26–29 | Jul 2019 | San Benedetto, Italy | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Sergio Galdós Juan Pablo Varillas | 6–4, 4–6, [10–5] |
| Win | 27–29 | Jul 2019 | M25+H Pontedera, Italy | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Adam Taylor Jason Taylor | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–2 |
| Loss | 27–30 | Aug 2019 | Augsburg, Germany | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Andrei Vasilevski Igor Zelenay | 6–4, 4–6, [3–10] |
| Loss | 27–31 | Sep 2019 | M25 Győr, Hungary | World Tennis Tour | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Diego Hidalgo Pedro Sakamoto | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 27–32 | Sep 2019 | Sibiu, Romania | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Sadio Doumbia Fabien Reboul | 4–6, 6–3, [7–10] |
| Loss | 27–33 | Feb 2020 | Quimper, France | Challenger | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Andrey Golubev Aleksandr Nedovyesov | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 27–34 | Nov 2020 | Ortisei, Italy | Challenger | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Andre Begemann Albano Olivetti | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 27–35 | May 2021 | Prague, Czech Republic | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Marc Polmans Sergiy Stakhovsky | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 27–36 | Jul 2021 | Braunschweig, Germany | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Szymon Walków Jan Zieliński | 4–6, 6–4, [4–10] |
| Win | 28–36 | Aug 2021 | Lüdenscheid, Germany | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Denys Molchanov Aleksandr Nedovyesov | 6–4, 2–6, [12–10] |
| Loss | 28–37 | Sep 2021 | Banja Luka, Bosnia and Hervegovina | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Antonio Šančić Nino Serdarušić | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 28–38 | Mar 2022 | Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Franco Agamenone Manuel Guinard | 6–7$^{(2–7)}$, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$ |
| Loss | 28–39 | Aug 2022 | Cordenons, Italy | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Dustin Brown Andrea Vavassori | 4–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 28–40 | Aug 2022 | San Marino, San Marino | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Marco Bortolotti Sergio Martos Gornés | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 29–40 | Sep 2022 | Sibiu, Romania | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Alexander Erler Lucas Miedler | 3–6, 7–5, [10–4] |
| Loss | 29–41 | Nov 2022 | Valencia, Spain | Challenger | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Oleksii Krutykh Oriol Roca Batalla | 3–6, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$ |
| Win | 30–41 | Mar 2023 | Waco, US | Challenger | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Evan King Mitchell Krueger | 6–1, 3–6, [10–4] |
| Loss | 30–42 | Mar 2023 | Zadar, Croatia | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Manuel Guinard Nino Serdarušić | 4–6, 0–6 |
| Loss | 30–43 | Oct 2023 | Olbia, Italy | Challenger | Hard | Ivan Sabanov | Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli Arjun Kadhe | 1–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 31–43 | Aug 2024 | Todi, Italy | Challenger | Clay | Ivan Sabanov | Filip Bergevi Mick Veldheer | 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ |
| Win | 32–43 | Jan 2025 | Oeiras II, Portugal | Challenger | Hard | Mili Poljičak | Íñigo Cervantes Mick Veldheer | 6–0, 6–1 |