What is Daniil Medvedev’s head coach Gilles Cervara’s advice to become a top Tennis player?

Daniil Medvedev’s head coach Gilles Cervara has given some important tips to upcoming Tennis players as to how they can achieve success on the ATP Tour.

Gilles Cervara has been coaching Daniil Medvedev ever since 2017. (Image credit: Facebook)
By Siddharth vishwanathan | Dec 16, 2021 | 5 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Daniil Medvedev’s grand success in 2021 has all been due to the efforts of his head coach Gilles Cervara. The Russian created history by beating Novak Djokovic in the final of the US Open in straight sets, thereby denying the Serb the chance to achieve a historic Calendar Grand Slam. Daniil Medvedev’s US Open success is proof of his talent getting the right boost after he won the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals. Much of the work is due to the endless hours of training that Cervara has put in to make Daniil Medvedev one of the best players in the world.

With 2022 fast approaching, Daniil Medvedev will be one of the players to watch out for. The youngster was Cervara’s first pupil as a professional on the ATP Circuit. It was Cervara who facilitated his move to France for a better Tennis future. The amount of success that Cervara has had ever since he started coaching Medvedev in 2017 is simply stunning.

How can an aspiring Tennis player get the level of success like Daniil Medvedev? Gilles Cervara has some interesting advice for players. Here are some tips.

Read | Who is Daniil Medvedev’s coach? Here are details about Gilles Cervara

Tip No.1: Training sessions to get back into competition

If one has to tackle the tough competition on the ATP Circuit, Gilles Cervara believes that it begins from training. In an interview with Tecnifibre, the brand that has Daniil Medvedev as a brand ambassador, Cervara stressed on the importance of training. Here are some important snippets

  • The training sessions must be with young players and they have to last at least two or three sets.
  • Visualising the match in the mind is very important. The surface, opponent, environment and the place must be clear in the mind before one begins to play.
  • Make the practice session as real as the match. The equipment, drinks and the number of balls that will be used must match that of the real-time play on the court. In short, a similar simulation in the practice session makes one aware of the real-match situation.

Tip No.2: Staying Calm Even in an Unforced Error

In a high-pressure match, an unforced error can change the momentum. There are many ways of how to combat the mistake. Players often break racquets, scream in agony or become angry. Cervara reckons this disturbs the emotional balance and makes a player lose focus. On this aspect, he says

  • Accept that the error has been made and move on.
  • Testing this aspect during training sessions is very important.
  • Embracing, accepting the unforced error and moving on is the key to overcoming the challenge.

Tip No.3: Winning a Tournament

For every player, tournament wins and Grand Slam wins define how good or bad the player is. But, there is a method in the mind to approach a tournament win. According to Cervara, here are some very important aspects.

  • The key focus should be on a point, the next point and so on. It is like Sir Don Bradman’s philosophy. Even if you score off the first ball, you are still on zero for the next ball. Total focus is the key
  • A tournament can be won if maximum focus and attention is given on winning key points at every single interval.

Tip No.4: Keep Fighting

At many points, a player will be facing a certain defeat. He may be two sets down and staring at a match point in the third set. But, the way how one can avoid or delay defeat is important.

  • Cervaras suggests that the focus on the next game should be like the first game of a new match or set.
  • Daniil Medvedev’s head coach further stated, “Live the moment, set new goals, close and reachable to stay motivated: for instance, come back from 5/1 to 5/2, then 5/3 etc…. Focus on the next step to avoid thinking about the long way still to go to win the whole thing, which would be mentally draining.”

Tip No.5: Avoid Unforced Errors

The basic aim for any player will be to ensure he needs to make fewer unforced errors. Cervaras has a method to it while training. He suggests playing a safe game on the first four shots. Once the player is engaged better with the shot, the focus will increase and chances of an unforced error will decrease.

Read | Daniil Medvedev Net Worth, Career Earnings and Brand Endorsements

Tip No.6: Trusting Game in Clutch Moments

Clutch Moments in a Tennis match include Set Point, BreakPoint, Tiebreaker, Match Point, and Championship Point. It is up to the player to decide what kind of game he must play, whether it is aggressive or defensive. That mindset must be incorporated into the training regime on a regular basis.

Tip No.7: Improving Shot Technique

For that, the player must visualize the shot from the starting point to the endpoint. Once the drill is done in practice and it is filmed, the coach’s duty comes in. Any suggestions or changes can be incorporated into that.

Tip No.8: Becoming Physically Strong

Tennis is a very physical sport. Knees, hamstring, ankles, sole, shoulder, elbow, neck, wrist, and hip are all used in a period of anywhere between one to six hours of a match. In order to cope with the rigors of the Tennis world, Cervara has these key suggestions.

  • Working out and lifting weight twice a week. This is primarily to avoid injuries.
  • Cardio training twice a week. This is to ensure the player copes with increased intensity and repetition.
  • Steady workout and the right mix of cardio and lifting weight is the key.

Tip No.9: Stop Blaming Racquet for Error

As mentioned above, embracing the unforced error and moving ahead is the only way to ensure the player does not lose focus.

Tip No. 10: Attain a New Ranking

This involves working with the coach and setting a goal. That goal should be used as a target to boost motivation. Setting concrete goals as well as some goals that can be flexible and changed in pursuit of that will give the player total focus in achieving the goal.





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