Gilles Cervara is the mind behind the success of Daniil Medvedev. On several occasions we have talked about how this coach analyzes his rivals by heart and makes the tactic to follow so that the Russian can dominate them, a tactic that sometimes does not work out at all (end of the Australian Open 2021) and that in others, without However, it becomes the fundamental pillar of the best victories (US Open 2021). Medvedev’s successes are shared by him and his entire team, and his mentality for the coming months is summed up in several values: consistency, regularity and hard work.
And it is that winning a Grand Slam seems to mean nothing for Gilles, who also shows in his words the ambition that his pupil shows on the track. In an extensive interview with our colleagues from Tennis Majors, Cervara explains tactical aspects that end up being absolute keys to Medvedev’s great performances, such as his position in the return of service, as well as the next steps to take in the coming months and what is the atmosphere that was breathed after the triumph at Flushing Meadows in the Russian box.
What does the title at the US Open 2021 mean for Gilles Cervara
“I want to answer this question with the same words that I used after he won his first ATP title and his first Masters 1000: this is a stage. This step has a broader focus, of course. With a Grand Slam you can almost get into the Pantheon, although it seems ridiculous compared to having 20 Grand Slams. I experienced an indescribable emotion. I have no words to express it, rather an image: spontaneously, I raised both arms and looked at the sky with an incredible feeling of joy that made me remember to the images when France won the 1998 World Cup. I grew up with those images and they motivated my search for victory. For the first time they became flesh and blood and not part of the imagination. “
What kind of step have Medvedev and Cervara taken with this title
“I have asked myself that question, because, yes, winning the US Open is a huge step. However, both Daniil and the whole team always focus on performance. It is a way of life, a way of thinking, which means that you are always attached to the idea of doing better and, therefore, of winning the next tournament. To make that possible, now I must prepare some workouts that are more powerful and that allow you to respond to more situations, to win much more. Daniil has not yet entered that state of mind, because now he must savor the title and is on vacation in the week before the Laver Cup. I have it in my veins, and when I see that Daniil cannot play the PlayStation without getting on through the walls if he doesn’t win, I convince myself of the idea that it is something that also happens to him. “
What changed in the Medvedev of the Australian Open final compared to the one that defeated Djokovic last Sunday?
“In February Daniil was missing an invisible aspect, related to energy. I do not like to use the word mental, but it was not at the level. He came after two very strong matches in the quarterfinals and semifinals (Rublev and Tsitsipas). I think who, with his inexperience in Grand Slam finals, thought that that level would be enough for him. That was a big mistake. Daniil and Francisca (his mental trainer) realized this aspect in the subsequent analysis. All the members of the team learned of that experience. It was key for us to win this final: even though Novak’s level is something else, we were going to be prepared in any case. “
Did Medvedev play the best tennis of his life in New York?
“I can’t define it that way. I can only say that he had detected various parts of his game that were not at his level after the Olympics, and that fueled my goals in training after Tokyo. In New York I saw that he was already there. to the level required in all those areas, and that was decisive to develop a very high level of tennis. However, to say that this is “his best level” is too abstract for me. It is a formula that can refer to playing all the balls very hard and put them all in, but his US Open wasn’t like that at all. On the other hand, I realized that Daniil can already make an ace on every first serve and that he has a very stable percentage. When he’s 0-30 or 15-40 you know he can come back, and that makes him very strong. “
Keys to your return of service, unique in the world
“There is a story behind that. It is his signature. It is part of his preferences, so spontaneous. When you look at him it is something absurd. When I started working with him, I thought:” It is impossible to win being so far from the line of bottom, you’re opening too many angles. “I tried to bring him closer to the bottom line so that he would subtract inside, but he refused. I felt that as he got closer to the line, things stopped working. I think I had the intelligence to listen to him and to put myself in his shoes, not to deconstruct something that pays him off thanks to his size, his vision and his tennis intentions. The statistics show us that he is a very effective rest. “
Upcoming goals
“The Grand Slams are a pack, quite plausible goals. However, above all I always tell myself that any goal requires a lot of work and a lot of improvement on a daily basis. The team has started to think that it has already won a Grand Slam, but we see many things to improve. All these things represent concrete aspects that must be analyzed with the potential of having a great result. To be number one in the world and win other Grand Slams you must achieve concrete things in your daily work. we’re going to do that, then if everything goes well, we can say yes, we’ve won (laughs).
And Roland Garros?
“I would tell you that Daniil is not capable of winning Roland Garros in 2022, not yet. I think Wimbledon is, he is capable.”
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