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Cervara On Medvedev: 'When He Feels Good, He Can Do Big, Big Things'

  • Posted: Jun 07, 2021

Daniil Medvedev has made a clay-court breakthrough this fortnight, advancing to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, where he had previously not won a match.

His longtime coach, Gilles Cervara, is pleased with the accomplishment, saying “It’s a good feeling to add another one in our career. It’s a great feeling.”

Medvedev has often joked in the past about his play on clay and hoping to win his first match at Roland Garros this year. But now, the Russian is into the last eight with the loss of just one set. The second seed also quietly has moved closer to taking the No. 1 FedEx ATP Ranking from Novak Djokovic, which he can accomplish by winning the title or by making the final without Djokovic also reaching the championship match.

ATPTour.com spoke to Cervara on Sunday about all of that and more.

I’m sure you’ve seen all the talk and Daniil has joked all the time about not having a win at Roland Garros. Does that make it especially nice that he’s found such good form in Paris?
For me, I try not to listen too much about this. When you are a coach, in the previous weeks he started to [talk] about the clay, that he doesn’t like the clay. As a coach, you cannot trust this. You cannot listen to this, you cannot stop on this. That’s my feeling, that’s my opinion. We will fight to get into the semi-final now. It’s your job. Of course you are able to win and play on clay courts.

Was one of the big things for you ahead of this tournament making sure he focuses on that and not the other stuff?
On the first day when we arrived in Paris, I was almost sure it would be a great tournament like he said in the press. But as a coach, after his first feeling here in practice [when he said he felt good], also for this I didn’t listen to [what he said in press]. I understood that he felt good. If he feels good, that’s great.

But now we’re going to see day after day, and especially after the first match how he is going to fight, how he is going to behave on the court. That will be the only proof that he is in good shape and a good mindset.

He had a tough first opponent, Alexander Bublik. When did you first realise that Daniil was feeling good?
I would say every day on court in practice, the four days we practised here. He won every set he played against his opponents and when he was in trouble, he didn’t say any words. That’s when I felt, ‘Okay, maybe he is right, he feels good and it’s not [words].’

At this moment, I felt we could have an opportunity to do something okay. After that, during every match it was like, ‘Okay, let’s see.’ I didn’t expect amazing things, but I was ready for big things, because I know Daniil and I know when he feels good, he can do big, big things.

You mentioned it was a good sign that he wasn’t saying much in tough moments on court. Was that something that you told him, that it wasn’t a good thing that earlier in the clay season he would talk too much on court?
Of course. It’s tough to say to a player, ‘Don’t talk’ when he wants to talk, especially with Daniil. It’s more when he talks, something is wrong, something needs to be improved inside himself. That’s his job, that’s our job and his mental coach’s job with him, to improve this. It’s not like, ‘Okay, I stop talking’ and it works. It’s more [for him to think], ‘I’m in a good mindset, so when it’s tough, I don’t feel the need to talk.’

Daniil has mentioned a few times in press how he likes the ball and the bounce in Paris. Do you feel the conditions are different this year?
I don’t think it’s different this year, but it’s different for him. It’s different for him because here in Paris it’s warm this year, so there is a lot of sun. The balls get faster and with more life in the bounce, so of course it’s great for him.

Not the clay, but inside the court, the ground is stronger than in Rome and Madrid. It’s not as soft. It changes everything. Small details can change everything for the player’s feeling, and that is what happened in Daniil.

We’ve seen on hard courts that Daniil gets in zones where he just doesn’t miss and it drives opponents crazy. Do you see him almost playing like that in Paris where he’s just settling into those types of rallies?
Yes, of course. That’s exactly what I just saw in his match today [against Cristian Garin]. In the first two sets it was like he didn’t miss. He plays in his zone because he doesn’t think, he has his automatism (the performance of actions without conscious thought) and his game puts his opponent in trouble. 

How amazing is it that Daniil has a real chance to get to World No. 1 this tournament?
Of course I will not think about this. The points, the record, the ranking, of course I do care. But during the tournament, the most important thing is that you try to play and be the best you can on the court during the match. If you are good, the rest is coming. But I don’t think about World No. 1 at all.

Next up is Stefanos Tsitsipas. How much does having such a good record against him help Daniil’s confidence?
I wish yes. In reality, I don’t know. It’s not the first time that they’ve played against each other on clay, because they played in Monte Carlo in 2019. It’s great that he has already beaten Tsitsipas.

If you could pick one thing that’s most important for Daniil the rest of the tournament, what would that be?
That’s tough, [there are] so many things. But as I know him, I will say to feel that he can play his tennis without thinking. [It is important that he is] feeling that his tennis is efficient and doesn’t make him think too much. Kind of reacting, but not 100 per cent. It’s to be in his automatism without thinking about anything else.

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Zverev Races Past Nishikori To Reach QFs In Paris

  • Posted: Jun 06, 2021

In the battle between US Open finalists, sixth seed Alexander Zverev triumphed over Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 on Sunday to race into the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

Zverev improved to 16-5 at Roland Garros, his joint-most successful Grand Slam in terms of matches won alongside the Australian Open (16-6). He also improved his ATP Head2Head lead over the Japanese player to 5-1, and 3-1 on clay courts. 

“I hope I continue playing the same way I did this match. Maybe even better,” Zverev said. “Now we’re in the quarterfinals, there’s only eight of us left, and the opponents are not getting easier. You need to perform at your best, play at your best.”

The German arrived in Paris after lifting an ATP Masters 1000 trophy on the clay courts of Madrid, recording head-turning wins over Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini en route to the title – along with a first-round win over Nishikori. Zverev’s Mutua Madrid Open victory marked his 15th tour-level title, and his second of the season after clinching the ATP 250 event in Acapulco in March.

Both Zverev and Nishikori have seen their five-set records tested during this Parisian fortnight. Zverev was taken the distance by qualifier Oscar Otte in the first round, and improved his record in Roland Garros five-setters to 7-0. Nishikori had two five-set marathons under his belt coming into their fourth-round clash, improving to 26-7 in fifth sets, the best winning percentage among active players. 

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But Zverev ensured they would not go the distance on Sunday after making a strong start to their Court Philippe-Chatrier night session clash. The German was going to the down-the-line backhand regularly with great success, getting to a 3-0 lead before Nishikori found his footing. That set the tone for the rest of the match as Nishikori found himself making up for lost ground across the one-hour, 57-minute match.

Zverev’s first serve let him down as the former World No. 4 earned his only break of the match at 3-1, consolidating to level the score at 3-3. Zverev never let him get comfortable, dragging the Japanese player from end to end with his heavy groundstrokes. He earned the break back late in the set at 5-4 to close out the opening tilt.

Zverev sped through the second set at the expense of just one game, opening up a 5-0 lead with a double break. In the third, Nishikori dug his heels in after going down another double break for 0-3, running after every ball and returning with interest. He earned unforced errors from Zverev to earn one of the breaks back, but Zverev took back control after a lengthy battle for 4-1. The German reeled off the last two games comfortably to seal his spot in the quarter-finals.

The sixth seed booked a last-four meeting with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after the 22-year-old Spaniard battled past Federico Delbonis 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 earlier in the day. The German leads their ATP Head2Head 2-0 going into their first clay-court match-up. 

“No matter who you’re playing, they already won four matches,” Zverev said. “I’m looking forward to that, of course. I know it’s not going to be any easier from this moment on.”

Nishikori was vying to become the 51st player in history to record 100 men’s singles match wins at the Grand Slams. He is now 13-11 on the season.

Did You Know?
Zverev is now the second German man in the Open Era to reach three quarter-finals at Roland Garros. He follows in the footsteps of Boris Becker, who advanced to this stage on four occasions between 1986 and 1991.

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Tsitsipas' Key: ‘Less Thinking, More Action’

  • Posted: Jun 06, 2021

Stefanos Tsitsipas revealed that his relaxed mindset enabled him to play his best tennis against Pablo Carreno Busta on Sunday as the Greek eased through to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

“I think I’ve played some of my best tennis when I don’t think much on the court, when everything is being done automatically, on autopilot,” Tsitsipas said. “I felt also my performance was at the top [against Carreno Busta]. So, yes, less thinking, more action.”

The 22-year-old reached the semi-finals in Paris last year and has also advanced to the last four at the Australian Open twice (2019, 2021). With Tsitsipas making another deep run here at Roland Garros, he is becoming accustomed to what is required to have success at Grand Slams.

“I think it is just adapting and getting used to things. In the beginning, you’re not, I would say, fully in the thing yet. You try and see what things work, the surface, the balls and everything,” Tsitsipas said. “Of course, you might have some knowledge from the previous years that you’ve played there. But in Grand Slams, it’s all about the endurance and being able to show up and do your job once every two days and do it well.

“It’s demanding. It takes a lot of attention, a lot of effort. I’ve grown up into loving that process and wanting to repeat that.”

The FedEX ATP Race to Turin Leader has recorded a Tour-leading 37 victories this season with 20 coming on clay. Tsitsipas will face a difficult test next against second seed Daniil Medvedev. The Russian leads their ATP Head2Head Series 6-1.

“He does serve extremely well, I have to say. He has improved over the years with his serve. This is going to be something that I will have to face,” Tsitsipas said. “Of course, myself playing well, I feel like I don’t have to think about who I’m facing or not. I just have to play my game, let the rest be witnessed.”

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Tsitsipas Storms Into Roland Garros Quarter-finals

  • Posted: Jun 06, 2021

Stefanos Tsitsipas recorded a Tour-leading 37th victory of the season on Sunday as he cruised past Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the Roland Garros quarter-finals.

Tsitsipas, who reached the semi-finals in Paris last year, prevailed in two hours and six minutes and has dropped just one set through four matches. The FedEx ATP Race to Turin leader hit 41 winners and only made 17 unforced errors in an impressive display to improve to 3-0 in his ATP Head2Head against Carreno Busta.

It was the Greeks’ 20th clay-court victory of 2021, with a maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (d. Rublev) a high point. He will face second seed Daniil Medvedev or clay-court stalwart Cristian Garin for a spot in the semi-finals.

The fifth seed made a roaring start on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion showcased a mixture of power and precision on his backhand and found consistent depth on his forehand return to move 4-1 ahead. While Carreno Busta worked his way into the contest, stepping into the court to fire away winners on Tsitispas’ second serve, the Greek held firm to fend off two break points at 4-2. He then sealed the set with one of the six aces he hit.

Tsitsipas continued to open his shoulders and strike the ball aggressively at the start of the second, breaking in the first game with an impressive crosscourt forehand winner. The 22-year-old reeled off the next three games to lead 4-0 as he controlled proceedings. The Spaniard’s level had dropped from the first set, as he won just 30 per cent of points on Tsistipas’ second serve, a decline from 55 per cent in the opener.

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Momentum changed at the start of the third though, with Carreno Busta breaking for the first time to lead 3-0 as he began to dictate proceedings on his forehand. However, he could not sustain his level with Tsitsipas closing to 3-4 when the Spaniard fired wide on the backhand. The Greek, who won 75 per cent of points on his first serve (47/63), then claimed four of the final five games to advance.

Carreno Busta is a two-time Roland Garros quarter-finalist, and he only dropped one set on his way to the fourth round this year. However, the 29-year-old’s seventh defeat of the season (17-7) means the Spaniard’s focus will move to the grass.

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