Cervara opens about his relationship with Medvedev

Gilles Cervara is coaching Daniil Medvedev since 2017 and together, they achieved a lot as the growth of the young Russian has been rapid.

Last year, Medvedev finished the season as no.5 in the ATP Rankings while he also reached the US Open final and won tournaments in Shanghai, St. Petersburg and Cincinnati. Cervara was named the Coach of the Year and this year he can win again. When being nominated for the award, he spoke to ATPTour.com when he said:

"I would say the main point is the good connection we have together. This connection is a mix between many things: I think I understand Daniil, the way he thinks, the way he works. I think our connection is a good one to make him be at his optimal level all the time. To find the best way he can work, the best way he can play, and to put him in the best conditions to prove his quality – I think that’s a part of my coaching, to make him succeed. I think that’s the main point, the relationship and the work… giving him the space that he needs to work and to play at his best," Cervara said.

"I will say maybe to finish the year like this [winning the Nitto ATP Finals] is a big achievementent. Because when you finish with victories like this, it gives you confidence to start the new season with a lot of hope and confidence. Also, it gives us confidence in the work that we did. Even if sometimes you don’t win for a few weeks, you still have to work and still believe in the work you do. So then when you win, you realize that the work you did, even in difficult moments, means that you were going in a good direction. That’s what makes me the most pleased this year."