World No. 11 Daniil Medvedev recently shared his perspective on the costs associated with hiring former top-level players as coaches.
Asked about the trend of players bringing in former pros and the high weekly fees sometimes cited (30-35 thousand euros or dollars) for figures like Connors or Martina Navratilova, Medvedev indicated that the price would depend on the specific individual and the nature of the agreement. He humorously added that he`d be willing to pay “a lot” for Novak Djokovic.
Reflecting on his own past collaborations, Medvedev mentioned working with Igor Andreev, primarily for clay season preparation over about two years. He also planned a long-term partnership with Gilles Simon that ultimately didn`t work out.
Medvedev stated that sustaining a payment of 30 thousand per week long-term would be “very difficult.” For a long-term coaching relationship, he wouldn`t consider paying anyone more than 20 thousand per week. He calculated that covering just 10-15 weeks a year at this rate amounts to a substantial 200-300 thousand, and 20 weeks reaches 400 thousand dollars, calling it “a serious sum.”
However, for a short, focused period, such as four weeks with someone exceptional like Roger Federer to gain specific insights, Medvedev suggested he might be open to paying more, potentially up to 50 thousand. He highlighted that for players of Federer`s stature, such fees are often more about status and demonstrating their immense value than purely about financial gain. While they wouldn`t work for free, the price signifies their standing rather than an urgent need for income.
The discussion then shifted to motivation. When asked if he would continue playing if all prize money were removed from tennis, despite having won a Grand Slam and reached World No. 1, Medvedev gave an immediate and firm answer: “I`d quit immediately.”
He elaborated that tennis is fundamentally his job, and he would seek another activity that offered similar excitement and provided some form of payment, even if not significant. When questioned if other pursuits could replicate the emotions of competitive tennis, he confidently replied “Of course,” suggesting motor racing as an example, although he noted he might not be paid for it.
He proposed other racket sports like padel or pickleball as potential alternatives if they offered prize money. Drawing an analogy to the business world, Medvedev observed that even billionaires with vast wealth continue to strive for higher rankings (like on the Forbes list) not purely for accumulating more money, but for the competitive drive, status, and the thrill of improving their position. He concluded that this ambition isn`t pursued for free, and if that form of `pay` (status, ranking) disappeared, they would likely find another arena in which to compete and excel.
