Google News Daniil Medvedev's coach: Rafael Nadal, congratulations on an amazing win
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 11146
Coach Gilles Cervara congratulated Rafael Nadal on winning the Australian Open and said he is proud of Daniil Medvedev. Medvedev fell just short of landing his first Australian Open final as Nadal recovered from two sets down to beat the Russian 2-6 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-4 7-5.
Medvedev has now finished runner-up at the Australian Open in back-to-back years. "We got it in our….! But what a final, what a tournament!!! 1st, Congrats to the winner Rafa Nadal for this amazing win. 2nd, big big congrats and very very proud of Daniil for what I saw and felt on every match…specially 1/4, 1/2, and final…" Cervara captioned his Instagram post.
"This inner strength during fights…that’s what I love to see and feel…to reach this level of strength it’s what we can expect to see as a coach… Bravo Fighters can be proud of them."
Nadal praised Medvedev
After winning a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam champion, Nadal called Medvedev a "great champion." “I think Daniil is a great champion,” said Nadal.
“He accepted the loss very well and I can say thanks because it’s a very hard night for him. I know how tough it is to be in that position”. Medvedev was disappointed with the way the crowd behaved during the final but afterward showed his class and spoke about the respect he has for Nadal.
“[I have] huge respect for Rafa,” said Medvedev in his post-match press conference. “Huge respect for beating me because I tried my best”. Medvedev was up by two sets, had a 3-2 lead in the third and three consecutive break points.
Nadal somehow overturned the deficit and won in five sets. “The way he managed to play throughout all these sets, even in the tough moments, for him it was for making history,” said Medvedev. “For sure he tried not to think about it, but it must have been somewhere in his head”.