Shanghai
Medvedev at a crossroads: Navigating his ‘grownup profession’
The 20-time tour-level titlist opens up about teaching change & extra
October 04, 2025
Fred Lee/Getty Pictures
Daniil Medvedev enters Shanghai with a 30-20 season report.
By ATP Workers
Daniil Medvedev has not misplaced his hearth. He’s simply in search of one other spark.
At age 29, the 20-time tour-level titlist is at a crossroads in his profession, searching for to regain the boldness and consistency that helped him attain World No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings, amongst different accomplishments. Medvedev is doing so with new voices in his nook.
Having gone 50 tournaments with out lifting a trophy since successful 5 titles within the first 5 months of 2023 by means of Rome, Medvedev lately break up with longtime coach Gilles Cervara. He’s now working with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke.
“It was not a simple resolution,” the 2021 US Open champion advised ATP Media on the Rolex Shanghai Masters, the place he gained the title in 2019. “However on the identical time, I am 29 years outdated, virtually 30 quickly, and [I wanted] to strive one thing new in my grownup profession. As a result of even once we began with Gilles, I used to be too younger, so it was with my mother and father a bit. The academy the place I used to be going was designing [my team]… To do it on my own was one thing good as a result of it was one thing new in my life.”
Cervara had been a gradual presence in Medvedev’s participant’s field since he first broke onto the ATP Tour. However after successful only one match throughout the 4 majors this yr, the 2022 US Open champion didn’t contact his racquet for 2 weeks and in that point, introduced his break up with Cervara. Medvedev embraced a recent mindset throughout his teaching search.
“You search for various things once you’re 20 and once you’re 30,” Medvedev added, talking completely with ATPTour.com. “As a result of once you’re 20, you’re nonetheless a younger tennis participant so that you in all probability want somebody to point out you the best way. When you find yourself 30, you want somebody to not present you the best way, however that will help you discover the best way once more.”
Medvedev is evident about what he desires from his crew.
“It must be somebody that may hearken to you. I believe it is essential in a training job,” he stated. “Somebody we have to get together with for certain. Proper now what I discovered in Thomas and Rohan, it is nice. We now have enjoyable on the courtroom, now we have enjoyable off the courtroom on the identical time. If they should inform you one thing, they don’t seem to be scared to inform me.”
That mix of significant depth and playful wit has lengthy outlined the unpredictable Medvedev. After his first-round loss on the US Open, Medvedev tossed six racquets to courtside followers after moments earlier destroying one other from his courtside chair. It was a chaotic scene that was equally telling. Medvedev had reached a boiling level.
“It was just a bit little bit of desperation,” Medvedev recalled. “And on the identical time I used to be like, ‘The followers are in all probability going to like it’. There was truly one racquet left within the bag and I did not comprehend it. I used to be for certain upset with the end result, upset with the best way I felt on the courtroom, with the best way I acted on the courtroom.
“I wished to set free the frustration, in all probability not on the courtroom, however I used to be cramping so I could not rise up. It was for certain an act of desperation and an indication I wanted a brand new begin.”
Medvedev arrives in Shanghai following a semi-final run in China’s capital metropolis, Beijing. He suffered cramps that pressured him to retire in opposition to Learner Tien on the ATP 500, however Medvedev is happy to start his marketing campaign at his favorite tour-level occasion.
“Beijing was truly an enormous step and I must take one other step right here in Shanghai. I completely love China as a rustic and I really like coming right here.
“It is all the time been — for the reason that first time I got here right here — the most effective event now we have on Tour if we take out the Grand Slams,” stated the sixteenth seed. “After all it is simply my opinion, nevertheless it’s my favourite event on Tour. I really like coming again right here so you’ll be able to ask me no matter. I will inform you plenty of good issues and I really like the services, I really like the courts, I really like all the things round this place.”
Medvedev opens his Shanghai marketing campaign in opposition to Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina Saturday, final match on Grandstand 2, which this yr boasts a brand new retractable roof.
