Daniil Medvedev hires two new coaches after split from Gilles Cervara

Daniil Medvedev has acted swiftly after splitting with Gilles Cervara by hiring two new coaches to work with him.

Medvedev and Cervara were together from 2017 until his elimination from the 2025 US Open. The pair shared one of the closest player/coach bonds in the sport, which might have delayed a decision some feel should have been made earlier.

Cervara may have eventually grown tired of Medvedev's antics, his latest extraordinary burst occurring in his US Open exit to Benjamin Bonzi. Although unconfirmed, Cervara's statement made it seem like he might have instigated the move.

Some thought Medvedev should take time away from tennis and return next year after a dreadful 2025 season. The six-time Grand Slam runner-up only managed one victory in this season's majors.

Instead, Medvedev appointed Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke and started working with them, as Bolshe reported. Johansson is best known to tennis fans for winning the 2002 Australian Open men's singles title, overcoming Andrey Rublev's coach, Marat Safin.

50-year-old Johansson is an experienced coach. The Swede had a spell working with 2016 Australian Open women's singles champion and former WTA world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki, who made a comeback to the sport in 2023.

From early 2024 until this month, Johansson coached 2014 US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori. They had a successful spell, with Johansson helping him to reach his first ATP final in six years after severe injury issues during that gap.

Goetzke's coaching experience goes back even further. From 1992 to 2003, he worked with Richard Krajicek, helping him to win the 1996 Wimbledon men's singles crown. That was followed by a spell with Mario Ancic.

Appointing two new coaches signals Medvedev's intent. Although Cervara did a superb job and his role in the 29-year-old becoming the 2021 US Open champion and making five more major finals should never be forgotten, a new approach might help Medvedev.

It is uncertain how swiftly Johansson and Goetzke can impact Medvedev's game. Coco Gauff won the 2023 Cincinnati Open and the US Open in the two months after Brad Gilbert became her coach, but she parted from him after the 2024 US Open, after not replicating that success.

By contrast, it took almost nine months for Iga Swiatek to reach a final with Wim Fissette, but she then had an incredible and unexpected run to the 2025 Wimbledon title after sticking with and believing in Naomi Osaka's former coach.

Medvedev has not won an ATP title since triumphing at the 2023 Italian Open, his first title on clay. He had a chance to break that barren spell in June at the 2025 Halle Open, but Alexander Bublik beat him in the final.

The former world No. 1's next tournament could be his best chance to win a title before 2025 ends. He is set to be the No. 2 seed at the 2025 Hangzhou Open, an ATP 250 tournament starting next week.

Johansson and Goetzke will need to have an instant impact if Medvedev is to win the Hangzhou Open.