By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 6, 2025
Photo credit: Shi Tang/Getty
Sometimes, coaching changes aren’t about tactical transformations.
Daniil Medvedev is still playing the same clever counterstrike style he played under ex-coach Gilles Cervara, but credits new coach Thomas Johansson for bring a different energy to his game.
The 2019 Shanghai champion Medvedev outlasted Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 7-6(5) today to reach the Rolex Shanghai Masters round of 16 and meeting with nemesis Learner Tien.
Medvedev smacked nine aces and won 33 of 35 first-serve points defeating Davidovich Fokina for the sixth time in seven meetings.
Empowered by his run to his maiden Tour-level final in Beijing last week, Tien topped Cameron Norrie 7-6(4), 6-3 saving eight of 10 break points.
Tien punished Medvedev building a 5-7, 7-5, 4-0 lead when the former No. 1 tapped out of the Beijing semifinals suffering cramping. At 19 years, 9 months, Tien is the second youngest Beijing finalist in history after former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who was 19 years, 3 months old when he defeated Guillermo Coria in the 2005 China Open final.
It was Tien’s second win over Medvedev this season following his five-set epic victory at the Australian Open.
Medvedev, who split with long-time coach Gilles Cervara after his US Open first-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi last month, has been working with former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke. While the 29-year-old Russian said it’s too soon in this new coaching partnership to gauge if the relationship will work, he’s pleased with his progress so far.
Medvedev said Johansson brings a different type of energy to his box.
“We haven’t been together for a long time,” Medvedev said. “So whatever happens now should not be only on the coach. But it’s all about a general change I’ve been pursuing for a long time.
“Something was not working in the end. So we just needed to change. It’s a just a change of energy and I love what Thomas tells me from time to time. Some small details.
“Because I know how to play tennis, but I need some small details here and there. So far it’s been working great and I’m happy about it.”
