Andrey Rublev’s Mother Advises Daniil Medvedev to Take a Break from Tennis After ‘Exhausting his Emotions’

Daniil Medvedev won only one match in Grand Slam events in 2025.

Andrey Rublev’s Mother Advises Daniil Medvedev to Take a Break from Tennis After ‘Exhausting his Emotions’

Daniil Medvedev (image via Cincinnati Open)

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Marina Marenko, mother of Andrey Rublev and a well-known tennis coach, has offered some advice to Daniil Medvedev in light of his recent struggles. Speaking to Russian outlet Championnat, she suggested that Medvedev might benefit from taking a break from competition to reset mentally and physically.

Her comments come shortly after Medvedev’s decision to part ways with longtime coach Gilles Cervara. The 2021 U.S. Open champion has since hired Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke to lead his new coaching team. Marenko said on Championnat:

He simply exhausted his emotions. But that’s okay: he’ll rest and recover. He’s a strong guy and a very intelligent player. Daniil is the former world number one; he can afford to relax a little. This isn’t the end of his career, but simply a rest. And that’s normal. When you’re exhausted, you no longer have the strength to win; you have to rebuild it.

Marenko, who has watched Medvedev’s career closely through her son’s friendship with him, implied that rest could be just as important as structural changes in his team. With a taxing season behind him and few notable results, she believes time away from the tour might help him recover focus and confidence.

Medvedev, however, appears eager to continue competing. He is set to return at the Hangzhou Open, where fans will get their first chance to see him work with his new coaching setup.

Daniil Medvedev parts ways with long-term coach

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev has ended his long partnership with coach Gilles Cervara following another disappointing first-round Grand Slam exit. Their final match together came at the U.S. Open, where Medvedev fell to unseeded Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi—the same opponent who had eliminated him at Wimbledon earlier this year. The New York defeat was marked by Medvedev’s heated exchanges with the chair umpire and a six-minute disruption as Bonzi served for the match.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (via The Tennis Letter)

Despite mounting a comeback that pushed the contest to five sets, Medvedev lost 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4. His frustration boiled over afterward, as he repeatedly smashed his racket on the court, resulting in a $42,500 fine for his behavior.

The loss highlighted what has been a tough season for the Russian, who has not captured a single title in 2025. Once a US Open champion in 2021, he has also suffered early exits at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros this year.

According to The Athletic, Medvedev made the decision to split from Cervara after reflecting on his struggles at home in Monaco. He is also parting ways with longtime fitness trainer Eric Hernandez, signaling a major shake-up in his team. The changes come at a time when his record for the season stands at 26 wins and 18 losses, far from his peak form.

Medvedev now faces the task of rebuilding his career momentum with new guidance. Reports suggest he will speak with several coaching candidates in the coming weeks before deciding on the next step. With the season winding down, his choice of a new team could be pivotal in determining how quickly he can return to competing for major titles.

Daniil Medvedev begins rebuilding job

Former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev is moving quickly to rebuild his team following a turbulent U.S. Open. The former world No. 1 was fined $42,500 after a heated first-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi, where he clashed with umpire Greg Allensworth and disrupted play for nearly seven minutes. The defeat marked another setback in a difficult season for the Russian star.

Daniil Medvedev (3)
Daniil Medvedev (Image via X/Meddy Family)

Shortly after, Medvedev confirmed he had split with longtime coach Gilles Cervara, who had guided him since 2017, as well as fitness trainer Eric Hernandez. The decision ended one of the most successful player-coach partnerships of the past decade, highlighted by Medvedev’s 2021 U.S. Open triumph and stint at the top of the rankings.

Over the weekend, signs of the next chapter emerged. His agent, Olivier van Lindonk, shared a photo of Medvedev training in Monte Carlo with former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson. The Swede, a former world No. 7, has experience coaching stars such as Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sakkari, David Goffin, and Kei Nishikori. Also joining the new setup is Rohan Goetzke, former director of tennis at IMG Academy.

The changes come at a critical time. Medvedev has reached only one ATP final in 2025, at Halle, and has just a single Grand Slam match win this season. Once ranked No. 5 in the world, he has now slipped to No. 18.

His revamped team will make its debut at the Hangzhou Open, an ATP 250 event starting September 17, where Medvedev will enter as one of the top seeds alongside compatriots Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev.

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