“When you play someone and you lose, you learn many things” – Medvedev’s coach Gilles Cervara on previous encounters with Alcaraz
Coach Gilles Cervara says that Daniil Medvedev’s win over Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semi-final is crucial
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev (Antoine Couvercelle/Panoramic)
Gilles Cervara saw Daniil Medvedev beat Carlos Alcaraz to reach the US Open final – and observed that their two previous encounters this year, both won by the Spaniard, had given them plenty of material to learn from.
“When you play against players and you lose, you learn many things, you know, and so it gives you some goals for the next time,” the Frenchman said in a press conference. “I think it’s also all the matches he already played against Carlos that helped for tonight.”
He added that he and Medvedev had developed a new strategy between them.
“Yesterday when we talked, we talked a lot of the strategy but at the same time me, because I need to use the strategy. And also the different thing I believe in sports, you know, the energy you can have, the determination, that makes a huge difference also in the emphasis of your game.
“So we talked also about this part, and we tried, I mean, he tried to make a combination of everything we said, and because he’s amazing player, he did it [on Friday] perfectly.”
Cervara: Medvedev will have this win in his head forever
Medvedev also had not taken a set from Alcaraz in their previous two matches, and this win on such a big stage – against the defending champion – levelled up their head-to-head.
“I think how important it is, I can’t precisely answer this question, but yes, I know that in a career, especially now because forever he would have this win in his head, and for the rest of the season and for the next year also, to know that he did it.
“So I think it’s something that you build your confidence like this. You’re able probably to feel that you are still in the best, I mean, he knows that he’s in the best player but it’s different to be top 5 than ready to be top 1, top 2, or top 3. And I think this one will help like this.”
