Medvedev Fires Coach Cervara After US Open Crash
By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 31, 2025
Photo credit: US Open
NEW YORK—The trip is over for the long-time Daniil Medvedev-Gilles Cervara partnership.
Former world No. 1 Medvedev, who crashed out of the US Open opening round in controversy, has axed his coach of eight years.
French coach Cervara worked with Medvedev for eight years, guiding him to the 2021 US Open championship and world No. 1 ranking in 2022.
Cervara announced the pair’s split on social media, praising Medvedev’s “unconventional magic as a player” and the results they produced together.
“Our fantastic eight-season adventure together comes to an end,” Cervara said. “Like a symbolic wink of life, it’s after this US Open tournament that we end our collaboration.
“I am grateful and happy for all the great things and wonderful experiences we were able to experience together on the court during these eight years. It will remain etched in my memory forever.
“I thank you for placing your trust in me. I gave EVERYTHING, every second, for our shared goals.
I loved training you, coaching you, supporting you (even when it was difficult), and finding solutions with you and the team to help you perform. I will keep in mind your unconventional magic as a player, which is your strength. It will return, I’m sure.”
Medvedev thanked Cervara for an “amazing 8-10 years together” in an Instagram post accompanied by a photo of the pair after Medvedev won the US Open championship, denying Novak Djokovic the calendar Grand Slam.
Medvedev, who is mired in a three-match losing streak, lost to Benjamin Bonzi in the US Open first-round. A frustrated Medvedev berated the chair umpire at one point after the umpire gave opponent Benjamin Bonzi a first serve following a photographer running out on court during the match.
A three-time US Open finalist, Medvedev suffered his third straight Grand Slam first round loss, including his second major opening loss to Bonzi, and smashed his Tecnifibre racquets in rage. Medvedev incurred $42,500 in fine for his behavior. Medvedev received a $30,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct and a $12,500 fine for racquet abuse, according to the Grand Slam rulebook.
The Flushing Meadows first-round exit has dropped Medvedev to No. 16 in the ATP Live Rankings.
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