Gilles Simon Dives Into the ‘Complicated’ Breakdown of Working Relationship With Daniil Medvedev in 2025

Gilles Simon parted ways with Daniil Medvedev during the 2025 ATP season.

Gilles Simon Dives Into the ‘Complicated’ Breakdown of Working Relationship With Daniil Medvedev in 2025

Daniil Medvedev, Gilles Simon (Image via ATP/X)

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Gilles Simon has opened up on the breakdown of the working relationship between himself and Daniil Medvedev. The duo had a brief working relationship that lasted just over a year, but it didn’t generate any titles.

Simon, who was a professional player himself, has claimed that the breakdown in the relationship started at the 2024 US Open. Medvedev lost in straight sets to Jannik Sinner there. Simon said on Eurosport France:

We had our first disagreement during the US Open, where he reached the quarterfinals. I remember him returning from a great distance in every match, which didn’t fit the tactical plan we had designed. I knew he was going to beat the players he beat returning from so far away, players like Fabian Marozsan or Nuno Borges, but my analysis before the quarterfinal match was that if he continued returning like that, he wasn’t ready to face Jannik Sinner.

Medvedev had a positive head-to-head against Sinner for a long period of time. However, things shifted from the 2024 Australian Open final. The Russian lost after being two sets up against Sinner. Mind you that he also lost from the same position two years earlier against Rafael Nadal in the final. He added:

It’s very complicated to implement certain changes for a player with such a well-defined pattern, someone accustomed to following certain paths when needed. It’s necessarily more difficult to work with a 28-year-old, whose path is already established, than with a 15- or 20-year-old kid. At the end of the season, we talked, and he confessed that I had already helped him a lot, but that I couldn’t push him any further.

Since then, he lost only one recognized final, which came at Indian Wells that year. He lost to Carlos Alcaraz there, and could only register one Grand Slam match win in 2025.

Gilles Simon gutted by how relationship with Daniil Medvedev ended

Former French tennis star Gilles Simon expressed disappointment about ending his relationship with Daniil Medvedev on a sour note. The duo ended their partnership briefly into the start of the 2025 season, when the Russian lost in the second round of the Australian Open. Simon added:

Daniil is extremely nice on the outside, but when he’s on the court, when he’s playing matches, he has a little monster inside to deal with that isn’t easy to handle. We’ve been players ourselves, we understand what’s going on, we know that our comments aren’t doing him any favors, but we understand. It’s a shame it turned out this way, but I knew this before I started working with him; everything else was a happy experience.

Gilles Simon
Gilles Simon (image via ATP)

Medvedev has largely remained consistent throughout his professional career, qualifying for the ATP Finals from 2019 till 2024. In 2020, he also ended up winning the ATP Finals for the first time in his career.

However, Medvedev has not been a top dog on the ATP Tour for quite some time. His last win against either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz came in the 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinals, where he beat the Italian in five sets.

Daniil Medvedev set to play doubles with Indian tennis legend

The World Tennis League will debut in India from December 17 to 20. The 2025 edition will take place at Bengaluru’s SM Krishna Tennis Stadium. This is the first time the event will move out of the UAE after three successful seasons. Fans can look forward to fast-paced tennis and a strong mix of global and Indian talent.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (Image via X/TENNISCentel)

Daniil Medvedev will headline the Game Changers Falcons along with Rohan Bopanna. Medvedev comes in with solid form after his Almaty Open win. Bopanna adds experience in doubles, while Magda Linette and Sahaja Yamalapalli strengthen the squad. The team expects an exciting and well-balanced campaign.

Denis Shapovalov will play for the VB Realty Hawks with Yuki Bhambri. The roster also features Elina Svitolina and Maaya Revathi. The team combines power, consistency, and resilience. Their aim is to stay adaptable in tough matchups.

Nick Kyrgios will lead the Aussie Mavericks Kites, supported by Marta Kostyuk, Dhakshineswar Suresh, and Ankita Raina. The AOS Eagles will be captained by Gael Monfils, with Sumit Nagal, Paula Badosa, and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty completing the side. With strong international stars and promising Indian players, the 2025 WTL is set to deliver top-tier tennis to Bengaluru audiences.

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