"After Wimbledon, I told myself something had to change," Cervara explains the end of his collaboration with Medvedev
Late last week, Gilles Cervara confirmed on social media that he had ended his collaboration with Daniil Medvedev. The French coach, who began working with the Russian in 2017, contributed to the player's success, helping him reach world number one and win the ATP Finals in 2020 as well as the US Open in 2021.
Now on the coaching market, Cervara, who confirmed he wants to find a similar position with another player in the coming months, discussed the reasons for his separation with his former protégé in an interview with L'Équipe after eight years of working together.
"What happened during his last match at the US Open (against Bonzi) was not the straw that broke the camel's back. It wasn't that match that led us here. It was the entire season and the feeling that something else was needed.
It had been on my mind for a while, especially after Wimbledon, where I told myself that something had to change, and therefore the people, so that Daniil (Medvedev) could potentially shift his dynamics and energy, in addition to everything he has to work on and discover about himself to break out of this spiral.
When I thought that maybe the people had to change, it was honest to think that way because my goal wasn't to hold Daniil back. Too often, people try to hold on to their 'thing,' but it's not positive for either the player or the coach.
It evolved in my mind to the point where I told myself: 'If there are no results this summer, we'll come to this outcome.' But even as I thought that, I always believed I could help him perform; I was always searching for solutions. But it wasn't happening, or not as well as before.
Naturally, I feel sad because a chapter is ending. But these are normal and even pleasant emotions. It's nice to feel sadness about everything we've been through. I would have given everything to experience this. When we parted ways, the feeling was actually light.
We were able to talk, and I felt joy telling him: 'Listen, this is a good decision, I'm sure it will work out, I'm sure you'll win again.' The end reflects what we experienced. It's good for him and for me so that we don't remain stuck," Cervara shared in recent hours.
