Three years in the past, when Daniil Medvedev gained his first U.S. Open title, his coach, Gilles Cervara, was sporting a blue New York Rangers cap.
Hailing from France, a rustic not recognized to be a hockey market, Cervara stated it’s his second favourite sport to look at behind tennis.
So the longtime coach started amassing NHL hats from the cities he visited 4 or 5 years in the past, which he continues to do in his seventh 12 months working with Medvedev.
The Rangers one, nonetheless, has confirmed to be particular this time of 12 months.
“I discovered the blue Rangers cap in a retailer, it was not the official [NHL] retailer as a result of it was closed at the moment after COVID, and it was the final one,” Cervara advised The Put up after Medvedev’s apply on Tuesday, forward of his Wednesday evening quarterfinal match towards No. 1-seeded Jannik Sinner.
“I don’t purchase any form of cap. I simply purchase the ’47 [brand hats]. From the primary day, every single day I had this cover [on] and he gained the trophy right here. I by no means [wore] it once more till final 12 months [at the Open] and he made the ultimate.
“Earlier than the ultimate I used to be like, ‘How is that this potential? He can win the match and I’d have the cap on my head just for this match!’ Loopy.”
Sporting a special camouflage Rangers hat, which he wears on apply days in Flushing Meadows, Cervara — who by no means performed hockey however has tried to skate — reminisced on watching the game for the primary time when he was 15 in France.
Rangers hat on the 3024 US Open Tennis Championships GC Pictures
The 43-year-old can’t assist however smile when speaking in regards to the Canadiens profitable the Stanley Cup in 1993.
One point out of Corridor of Fame netminder and present Islanders coach Patrick Roy and Cervara can go on and on.
Having lived in Miami throughout one of the pivotal factors in his life, Cervara was elated to see the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup this 12 months.
The very fact they had been led by star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky solely made Cervara put on his Panthers hat extra proudly whereas he was at Wimbledon earlier this summer time.
U.S. Open on Sept. 2, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Put up
If it wasn’t clear by the 4 NHL groups and two NHL gamers already talked about, Cervara is a fan of the game as a complete and is fascinated by goaltenders.
“I used to be very impressed with the goalies,” he stated. “One thing is, you already know, electrical, their motion. And the goalie is the man who can change the [game], so one thing much like myself.”
Cervara has attended NHL video games in Los Angeles and Florida, however by no means on the residence of the Rangers, Madison Sq. Backyard. He hopes to sometime.
Whereas Cervara has supported the Rangers in Flushing, the Blueshirts’ star participant, Artemi Panarin, has supported Medvedev earlier than.
Panarin attended Medvedev’s title match in 2021. The compatriots are pleasant, and Panarin has even gifted Medvedev one among his No. 10 jerseys.
Possibly the New York Rangers will be good luck for Medvedev as soon as once more.
