Gilles Cervara suggests way Daniil Medvedev may copy Novak Djokovic
Daniil Medvedev’s coach Gilles Cervara has hinted the world No 3 could follow rival Novak Djokovic’s approach to tournament scheduling.
Cervara highlighted the fact that Djokovic focuses “only on the most important” tournaments, but stressed players can only afford to do this if they are successful.
Medvedev has a 64-15 (81%) record and has won five ATP titles, as well as reaching another four finals, during an impressive season in 2023 so far. His triumphs came in Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai, Miami and Rome.
The 27-year-old was a runner-up at the US Open in September, where he was defeated by Djokovic in a rematch of the 2021 final he won.
The Russian is playing his 21st event of the season at this week’s Paris Masters, where he will face Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday in a repeat of a second round encounter he won in three sets at the Vienna Open last week. He was defeated by Jannik Sinner in a thrilling final at the ATP 500 event on Sunday.
In an interview with Ubitennis, Cervara was asked if Medvedev would look to reduce his tournament schedule given he will surpass the 80 match mark in 2023.
“It’s a good question, and it’s a question that only top players when they have more experience can afford to ask themselves. A bit like Novak, who now does not play all the tournaments and focuses only on the most important ones,” said the coach.
“But you can afford to make these considerations only if you win and it’s a question we will start to ask ourselves also with Daniil. He is now 27 years old, runs a lot, has a taxing tennis game. He has already won the most important tournaments and consequently, he will have to focus on those and perhaps set aside some lesser ones.”
The Frenchman also discussed the challenge of helping Medvedev after his defeat to Sebastian Korda in the third round of the 2023 Australian Open.
“That period was difficult, after the Australian Open, it was complicated as a coach. I told Daniil at the time that it was not a disgrace to lose to Korda, who was playing well,” said Cervara.
“And perhaps Daniil at the same time was not at 100% and was not able to beat that day’s version of Korda, but in any case, there was nothing to be ashamed of. The important thing was to remain calm and analyse why we had lost against that type of player, what had put Daniil in difficulty and work on it to rebuild confidence.
“But it’s not automatic, otherwise, it would be easy. At those times the challenge for a coach is precisely to rebuild the player’s confidence – this is something you do day by day, and every day was a challenge and it was not easy. You need to maintain a fighting spirit, look for solutions, and accept the moments of difficulty.
“I am happy to have remained strong, to have maintained trust and inner calm to try to be the best version of myself and the best possible coach at that time. Daniil is someone who wants to fight, find solutions and win, even when he goes crazy on the court.
“We both tried to do our best and since he has great talent and has the ability to reach a high level, so in the end he found the way back to winning and to being ‘on fire’, a bit like Sinner now, who is putting together a series of victories.”
Following the Masters 1000 tournament in Paris, Medvedev will make his fifth straight appearance at the ATP Finals, which will be played in Turin later this month.
