After Rafael Nadal's retirement announcement, Daniil Medvedev's coach hilariously accuses Spaniard of stealing Russian's 2 Grand Slams

Daniil Medvedev’s coach, Gilles Cervara, had a hilarious reaction to Rafael Nadal announcing his impending retirement. The French coach reminisced about the Spanish legend’s inspiring presence on the tour but accused him of stealing Medvedev’s two potential Grand Slam titles.

On Thursday, October 10, Nadal confirmed the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga (November 19-24) as his career’s final tournament. Following the announcement, he was flooded with heartwarming messages from his fans, colleagues, and prominent sporting figures. The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s arch-rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, too, celebrated his illustrious career.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz expressed their gratitude at being able to share the court with their idol. Sinner’s coaches, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, too, joined in to honor the former World No. 1.

Jannik Sinner's coach Darren Cahill on X

Daniil Medvedev’s coach, Cervara, meanwhile, humorously called out the Spaniard for beating his player twice in Grand Slam finals. Medvedev, who beat Novak Djokovic to clinch the 2021 US Open, has featured in six Major finals so far, losing twice to both Rafael Nadal and Djokovic and once to Jannik Sinner.

"Rafa big, big congrats for your huge career. The way you fought during adversity was Inspiring for so many people in life," he wrote on Instagram.

"By the way, Thanks for the 2 Grand Slams you took (from) Daniil and the team !!!" the Frenchman teased.

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"Would have liked to do better, to win it" – What Daniil Medvedev said about his crushing defeat to Rafael Nadal at Australian Open 2022

Daniil Medvedev (L) pictured with Rafael Nadal at the 2022 Australian Open - Image Source: Getty

Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal locked horns six times in their careers, twice at Grand Slams. The latter was victorious in five meetings, including the two Grand Slam finals at the 2019 US Open and the 2022 Australian Open. Interestingly, both matches went the distance.

At the US Open, Nadal won the opening two sets before the Russian challenged him in the third and fourth. He eventually eked out the win with the score reading 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4. At the Australian Open, the veteran staged a miraculous escape despite being a break and two sets to love down. He won the thrilling contest 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5, to clinch the 21st of his 22 Grand Slams.

Addressing his heartbreaking defeat later in 2022, Medvedev said:

"I would have liked to do better, to win it, I was in front. Obviously, just after a loss like the one in the Australian Open final, for a few days, even a few weeks, it's hard for me. It's complicated," he said according to Eurosport.

"But once again, when I look back, I tell myself that it's experience, it's life. All this made me progress as a human being. I understood some things. I understood that, sometimes in life, things don't always go my way! So I try to see things a little differently now," he added.

Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev will soon participate in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia (October 16-19) ahead of the Spaniard’s retirement.