Daniil Medvedev believes Rafael Nadal was guilty of breaking a tennis rule before he retired in 2024.
Medvedev played against Nadal six times, losing five of those matches, which includes two Grand Slam finals.
All of these six matches took place prior to 2025, when it was announced that off-court coaching would be allowed following years of trials.
Following his first round win at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Medvedev has suggested that Nadal was receiving coaching during his matches before it was even allowed.
Daniil Medvedev says Rafael Nadal often broke the coaching rule
Medvedev recently claimed left-handed players have a disadvantage, and he beat one in his first match in Dubai against Juncheng Shang, winning 6-1, 6-3.
After a comfortable first victory at the ATP 500 tournament, Medvedev headed to his post-match press conference where he was asked about whether changes in racket technology have made it easier to become a professional tennis player.
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In the same question, Medvedev was also asked about players now able to receive coaching during matches and whether this bothers him.
Medvedev actually claimed that he thinks it is harder to become a professional tennis player, before explaining that he is not bothered by coaching, as he suggested that lots of players were doing it anyway including Nadal.
“I think now it’s much tougher, in general,” said Medvedev. “I’m not talking about this thing that now is popular, top 10, before, after. Let’s say even top 300 is definitely much stronger than before.
“As you say, more people have the ability to play tennis. Federations are more involved. A lot of people maybe who would not have the opportunity before to travel and play tennis have it now. So I think to become a tennis professional inside the top 300 is much tougher than before. In general, the level is more close than before.
“About coaching and stuff like this? This is just evolution of life. I think before I came on tour, every coach was talking. Now you can do it and not be scared of a coach violation.
“But before everyone was talking. I mean, you see Rafa or someone else, especially like maybe it’s more popular in Spanish countries and stuff like this, they talked a lot. It’s fine. Nothing changed in this case.”
Roger Federer once accused Rafael Nadal of breaking the rules
It is not the first time that Nadal has been accused of receiving coaching on court before the rules were changed, with Roger Federer calling it out 20 years ago.
During the 2006 Italian Open final, Federer called out Nadal’s uncle and coach at the time, Toni Nadal, and claimed that officials ‘don’t keep a close enough eye on him’.
This continued after the match, which Nadal won 6(0)-7 7-6(5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(5), as Federer claimed he caught Toni Nadal ‘in the act’.
“He was coaching a little bit too much again today,” Federer said at the time. “Yeah, I caught him in the act.”
These accusations were brought to Nadal later in the year, but he strongly disputed them and claimed he was only saying words of encouragement.
“If my uncle didn’t receive a warning in Rome, it must be because he was abiding by the rules,” Nadal responded. “If my uncle was truly giving me coaching tips, he would have gotten a warning. All he was doing was spurring me on, saying, ‘Vamos!’ [Let’s go!] ‘Venga!’ [Come on!] ‘Con fuerza!’ [Go for it!]”
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He added, “Explain to me: What kind of rule is this that coaches can’t say anything during a match? In what other sport does that happen?” he asked. “I mean, you are paying your coach and taking him to Australia to have him do this during the matches?”
With it being such a long time ago, the hatchet has long been buried between Nadal and Federer, who now have a friendship after both retiring from the sport where they competed against each other for so many years.
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