"He gave me a list of 16 players he doesn't like to play, I prepared 16 tactics": Gilles Simon was sending tactics during Australian Open run to Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev has been on a good run of form of late, despite not having any titles to show for it. The World No. 4 has reached two finals and a semi final in the last three Grand Slams, but finishing runner-up at the Australian Open last month after leading Jannik Sinner by two sets will sting the Russian the most.

One factor that puts context to Medvedev's form is his hiring of Gilles Simon to his coaching team. The pair have been working together since December, but it was only announced last week. "Daniil contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in doing a few weeks with them (his team) in 2024," the Frenchman said in an interview with Le Figaro.

"I’ve already been working with him since December, but we haven’t said anything. In Australia, I sent all the tactics."

Simon, who had a winning record over Medvedev during his playing career, was able to help his new man get one over his rivals. "For example, he gave me a list of 16 players he doesn’t like to play against, and I prepared 16 tactics!

"Daniil is extremely strong tactically, feels very precisely what needs to be done, but it happens to him, like everyone else, to make mistakes. Because of emotions, because he’s impatient… So I try to explain it to him, and I think he likes it."