By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday December 15, 2020
After a stunning conclusion to the 2020 season that saw Daniil Medvedev win titles at Paris-Bercy and the ATP Finals, the Russian and his coach, Gilles Cervara are setting their sights on the highest aims in tennis.
“We now want to beat the Top 5 and Top 10 players in the last rounds of the Grand Slams,” Cervera said in this exclusive interview with Tecnifibre. The coach of Medvedev spoke of Medvedev’s special winning streak at the end of the season, hitting on the confidence that the pair has gained from the experience.
“It also adds something else because this result proves that Daniil can go further,” Cervara said. “Even if the road will be long and winding. With the way he played for those two tournaments, now we have this precious feeling, that he can do it. He can win Slams.”
Cervara said that he and Medvedev had a heart-to-heart conversation just prior to the Paris Masters, and from that point Medvedev recommitted himself to putting past losses behind him and giving everything mentally and physically to the final weeks of the season.
“Effectively for me it was a turning point,” Cervara said. “Before that he had lost in a few tournaments, without success, without good behavior and good energy—not the attitude a future Masters or Grand Slam winner should have. After Vienna I had this discussion, just after training before we arrived in Paris, I felt like it was the right time to tell him certain things—I don’t think he would have been ready to hear them before that.
“The goal of the talk was the change the direction we were heading. But this kind of talk is only possible if the player has made a mental preparation before it.”
Medvedev, who reeled off seven Top 10 victories in the final two weeks of the season, also became the first player in history to defeat the No.1, No.2 and No.3 players en route to the ATP Finals title.
Cervara says it has been important for Medvedev to add layers to his game. The Frenchman says his charge is now more equipped to play with variety than ever before.
“He’s proven he’s able to add new things and variety to his game. On many situations: his return of serve, his play at the net, his touch. So all this, when mixed into his consistent game, give him many options.”