Daniil Medvedev hoping for more clay court success with Gilles Simon in his corner

Daniil Medvedev is optimistic about the addition of Gilles Simon to his coaching team, as he believes it will enhance his understanding of clay courts. As the world number four, Medvedev aims to boost his confidence on his least preferred surface in preparation for the upcoming French Open.

Throughout his career, Medvedev has achieved remarkable success on hard courts, securing 19 out of his 20 titles, including the 2021 U.S. Open. He also clinched a grass court crown at the Mallorca Open in the same year.

However, his triumphs on clay have been limited, with his sole clay court trophy coming from the 2023 Rome Masters prior to Roland Garros.

Despite a disappointing start to the clay court season, suffering an early loss in Monte Carlo this month, Medvedev has noticed improvements in his game since working with Simon.

The Frenchman, who has won five tour-level trophies on clay, has been instrumental in helping Medvedev implement certain aspects into his game that he had previously contemplated but struggled to execute on the court.

During a press conference at the Madrid Open, Medvedev expressed his appreciation for Simon's guidance, stating that he explains how to incorporate these elements into his game.

This is particularly valuable to Medvedev, as he emphasizes the importance of quick decision-making during matches, where there is limited time for extensive thinking.

He acknowledges the need to strike a balance between absorbing Simon's advice during practice sessions and not overthinking it during actual matches.

Reflecting on his recent performance in Monte Carlo, Medvedev admitted that he may have become too preoccupied with strategizing his next moves instead of focusing on playing instinctively.

However, he finds the collaboration with Simon intriguing and believes it is currently yielding positive results. Medvedev eagerly anticipates further learning opportunities and is enthusiastic about the progress he can make under Simon's guidance.

Medvedev's Madrid campaign will commence against either Christopher O'Connell or Matteo Arnaldi, and he aims to apply the insights gained from working with Simon to achieve success on the clay courts.