After just one year of collaboration, Daniil Medvedev has officially parted ways with Gilles Simon, confirming the split at the ABN Amro Open in Rotterdam. Simon, a former world No. 6, joined the Russian tennis star’s coaching team to bring a fresh perspective to his game, but their partnership did not yield the desired results.
Daniil Medvedev Confirms Coaching Split in Rotterdam
At a pre-tournament press conference, Daniil Medvedev acknowledged the decision and reflected on his time working with Gilles Simon.
“It honestly was a good experience,” Medvedev said. “There were a lot of good things me and Gilles Cervara can take going forward. It just didn’t work out exactly the way we wanted in terms of results.”
Despite Simon’s expertise, Medvedev failed to capture a title during their time together. The Russian’s last tournament victory came in May 2023 at the Rome Masters. Although he reached the Wimbledon semifinals and the US Open final in 2023, he fell short on both occasions, struggling against top-tier opponents, including Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
“We didn’t win a title or Grand Slam or something like this,” Medvedev continued. “But I learned a lot of new things about tennis, and it gave me a new perspective. I’m sure it’s going to help me in the future. We remain with good feelings, but we’re not working together anymore.”
A Challenging Year For Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev has faced injuries and inconsistency since reaching world No. 1 in February 2022. Entering the 2025 season, he welcomed his second child with his wife, Daria, but suffered a disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open, losing to 19-year-old American Learner Tien.
“When you are 20 years old, and you first come onto the Tour, you have a lot of fire, and you just go for it. You are fearless. When you are 28, nearly 29, it is a bit different,” Medvedev told the ATP website. “The fire still burns in me, but it is a different fire. You need to try to keep it, as the margins are so small. When you lose early, you just need to look forward because there is more coming.”
Gilles Simon Expresses Gratitude
Following the announcement, Gilles Simon took to social media to express his appreciation for the opportunity to work with Daniil Medvedev.
“A big thank you to Daniil and to the whole team for this year spent together,” Simon wrote. “It was a great experience, very interesting, and I will only have good memories of it. I wish you all the best in the future and, above all, in achieving your goals!”
Daniil Medvedev Looks Ahead
Currently ranked No. 7 in the world, Daniil Medvedev finished the 2024 season with a 46-21 record. With Simon no longer in his coaching team, he will continue working with longtime head coach Gilles Cervara.
Medvedev now turns his focus to Rotterdam, where he is the No. 2 seed behind Carlos Alcaraz. His first match at the ATP 500 event was a classic three-set match against three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. With the season still young, Medvedev remains determined to regain his best form and return to the winner’s circle.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
