Daniil Medvedev’s coach has demanded a better attitude from his Russian player ahead of his quarter-final showdon with Gilles Simon in Marseille.
Gilles Cervara, who is the coach of the US Open finalist, wasn’t satisfied with the attitude of Medvedev despite his 1-6 6-1 6-2 win over Jannik Sinner.
After a sloppy start from Medvedev, the Russian eventually stormed past the Italian rising star with the loss of three games in the last two sets.
However it was the first set that left Cervara so angry that the French coach left the team box to send a message to Medvedev that he wasn’t going to settle for this attitude.
Speaking to L’Equipe after the match, Cervara explained why he left courtside after the opening set, “When I see Daniil with that kind of attitude, that energy during the first set, crying over all the lost points, it annoys me,” Cervara said.
“I told myself, ‘He has to react. Either it’s him or it’s me.’ It was me. I didn’t want to support that behavior at that point, knowing that if he carried on like that he was heading straight into a wall.
“I secretely hoped it would make him react. I didn’t want to wait any longer. I remember once in Cincinnati where we shouted at each other on the side of the court. This time, I just got up.”
Also after the match Medvedev admitted that his coach was right to walk away and inspired him to reach another gear, “With my behaviour on the court, even if my entire box had left I would have said ‘OK.’ He was right,” Medvedev claimed. “At the same time, it enabled me to get my good energy back. Because afterwards I didn’t say a word.”
Should Medvedev want to rediscover his form in Marseille this week, he will need to show better attitude in his last eight clash against Gilles Simon.
The French veteran beat Aljaz Bedene in his second round encounter 7-6(6) 6-4 and is one of the most focused players on the ATP World Tour.
In the other three quarter-finals a trio of Canadians will look to make the last four in Marseille as Denis Shapovalov takes on Alexander Bublik.
While Vasek Pospisil and Felix Auger-Aliassime face Stefanos Tsitsipas and Egor Gerasimov respectively.
