Coach Gilles Cervara told Tennis Majors that Daniil Medvedev’s «confidence was gone after the 2023 Australian Open.» In 2022, Medvedev won Los Cabos and Vienna, but never looked like the same player after blowing a two-set lead in the 2022 Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal.
Then, at the start of the 2023 season, Medvedev’s struggles at the Grand Slam level continued as he suffered a shocking two-set loss to Sebastian Korda in the third round of the Australian Open. After Korda’s loss and another disappointing result on the big stage, Medvedev was left without confidence in his game.
Just a couple of days before returning to action in Rotterdam, Medvedev looked like a lost player: the Russian told himself his game was bad, while Cervara tried to convince the former world number 1 that his level wasn’t as bad. bad.
In the first round in Rotterdam, Medvedev trailed by a set before coming from behind to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. From that moment on, something clicked in Medvedev’s mind and he won three consecutive titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.
Coach Cervara: Medvedev had no confidence after the Australian Open
“When he comes back from Australia, the two weeks of training are very difficult because he doesn’t have confidence. He’s not winning, he doesn’t feel good, he doesn’t feel anything and you have to deal with it.
That’s the beauty of the job, especially when you’re working in the back, but for a fortnight you have to navigate a very uncertain space. A player like Daniil has his beliefs, his way of analyzing and managing situations.
Back from Australia, we are not at our best and we have to deal with it. The three days before Rotterdam are very special. Daniil has doubts and everything is a source of explanation of why he plays tennis badly. I try to accompany him, to react, to guide him as best as possible to show him that what he says is not reality.
Because I think he plays well,» Cervara said. tennis majors.
