Daniil Medvedev didn’t waste any time after his split with longtime coach Gilles Cervara. He’s already hired two new coaches to help turn things around.
Medvedev and Cervara worked together for eight years, from 2017 until his disappointing exit at the 2025 US Open. They had one of the closest relationships you’ll see between a player and coach in tennis.
Maybe that’s why it took so long to make the change.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniil Medvedev | 29 | 6,485 | 27 - 8 |
Some people think Cervara might’ve gotten fed up with Medvedev’s on-court meltdowns. His latest epic breakdown happened during that US Open loss to Benjamin Bonzi – and it was pretty spectacular, even by Medvedev’s standards.
While it’s not confirmed, Cervara’s statement after the split made it sound like he might’ve been the one to pull the plug.
After such a brutal 2025 season, plenty of folks thought Medvedev should just take a break. Pack it in for the year and come back fresh in 2026.
The numbers tell the story of just how bad things got. This six-time Grand Slam runner-up managed just one win across all four majors this year.
One win. That’s it.
But instead of taking time off, Medvedev went straight to work. He’s brought in Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke as his new coaching team.
What these coaches bring to the table
Tennis fans will remember Johansson for his surprise 2002 Australian Open victory. The Swede beat Marat Safin in the final – who’s now coaching Andrey Rublev, ironically enough.
At 50, Johansson’s got serious coaching experience under his belt.
He worked with Caroline Wozniacki during her 2023 comeback. Before that, he spent time with Kei Nishikori from early 2024 until just recently.
That partnership with Nishikori was actually pretty successful. Johansson helped him reach his first ATP final in six years after all those injury problems.
Goetzke goes back even further in the coaching world. He guided Richard Krajicek to the 1996 Wimbledon title during an 11-year partnership that lasted from 1992 to 2003.
Hiring two coaches at once shows Medvedev’s serious about making changes. Cervara did an amazing job – he was there when Medvedev won the 2021 US Open and reached five other major finals.
But sometimes you need a fresh perspective.
The coaching change gamble
The big question is whether new coaches can make an immediate impact. Sometimes it works like magic – Coco Gauff won Cincinnati and the US Open within two months of hiring Brad Gilbert in 2023.
Of course, she ended up parting ways with Gilbert after the 2024 US Open when that early success didn’t continue.
Then there’s the opposite approach. Iga Swiatek took almost nine months to reach a final with Wim Fissette. But when it clicked, boy did it click – she went on that incredible run to win Wimbledon 2025.
Patience versus immediate results. It’s always a tough call.
Medvedev’s title drought tells the whole story of his recent struggles. His last ATP victory came at the 2023 Italian Open – his first-ever title on clay, which made it extra special.
He came close to ending that dry spell at the 2025 Halle Open in June, but Alexander Bublik beat him in the final.
That loss had to sting.
The former world No. 1’s next chance comes pretty quickly. He’s expected to be the No. 2 seed at next week’s Hangzhou Open, an ATP 250 event.
For Johansson and Goetzke, there’s no honeymoon period. If Medvedev’s going to salvage something from 2025, they’ll need to work their magic right away.
The clock’s ticking on what’s been a year to forget.
