Daniil Medvedev knew something had to change after his disastrous US Open performance. So he made the tough call – ending his eight-year partnership with coach Gilles Cervara.
It’s been a rough stretch for the Russian star. His last title came way back at the 2023 Italian Open in Rome – ironically on clay courts, which aren’t exactly his specialty.
Since then? Things have gone from bad to worse.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniil Medvedev | 29 | 6,485 | 27 - 8 |
Last year, Medvedev at least managed to stay in the Top 5 on the ATP Tour by year’s end. But 2024 has been absolutely brutal for the 29-year-old.
He’s won exactly one Grand Slam match this entire year.
That single victory came in the first round of the Australian Open against Kasidit Samrej – a player who’s never even cracked the Top 300 rankings.
After that promising start, everything fell apart. Medvedev lost heartbreaking five-set battles against Learner Tien in Melbourne and Cameron Norrie at Roland Garros.
Then came the Benjamin Bonzi disasters.
First, a four-set loss at Wimbledon. Then another five-set defeat at the US Open – to the same guy.
For context, this matches Medvedev’s worst Grand Slam performance since 2017, when he also managed just one match win. That’s seven years of progress essentially wiped out.
The rankings tell the brutal story too. After his early New York exit, Medvedev’s about to drop to World No. 16 – possibly even lower.
He hasn’t been ranked that low since February 2019.
The US Open Meltdown
But the poor results weren’t even the worst part of Medvedev’s US Open. He had a massive on-court outburst that became one of the tournament’s biggest controversies.
The incident involved a bizarre clash with the chair umpire and showed just how frustrated the former world No. 1 had become.
It was clear that something fundamental needed to change. And it did.
After working together for eight years, Medvedev and Cervara decided to part ways. Cervara broke the news first on Instagram, posting a heartfelt message about their journey together.
"Daniil, our fantastic eight-season adventure together comes to an end. Like a symbolic wink of life, it’s after this US Open tournament that we end our collaboration."
The French coach didn’t hold back his emotions, thanking Medvedev for the trust and reflecting on their shared experiences.
"I gave everything, every second, for our shared goals. I loved training you, coaching you, supporting you (even when it was difficult), and finding solutions with you and the team to help you perform."
Cervara ended on an optimistic note, expressing confidence that Medvedev’s unique playing style would eventually return to form.
"I will keep in mind your unconventional magic as a player, which is your strength. It will return, I’m sure."
Parting on Good Terms
Medvedev responded with his own statement shortly after, making it clear there’s no bad blood between them.
"Thank you, Gilles. Amazing 8-10 years together, 20 titles, world number 1 but most importantly a lot of fun moments and memories that will stay with us forever."
The numbers speak for themselves – 20 titles and a climb to world No. 1 under Cervara’s guidance. That’s pretty incredible by any measure.
But sometimes in tennis, what works for years suddenly stops working. Both men seem to recognize that their partnership had simply run its course.
The big question now? Who will Medvedev turn to next, and can a new voice help him rediscover the form that made him one of the world’s best players just a few years ago?
At 29, he’s still got plenty of time to turn things around. But with his ranking in freefall and confidence clearly shaken, the next coaching decision could be the most important of his career.
