Resurgent Medvedev Secures Maiden Trophy in Over Two Years
Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's 21 titles have been earned on hard courts
A comeback Medvedev won his maiden trophy for over two years with a win over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
The Russian, a former top-ranked player, has endured a challenging period, winning just a single victory at the major tournaments and suffering a meltdown at the US Open.
His unpredictability on the professional circuit - and struggles with his serving in particular - led to him dropping out of the world's top 10 and eventually separating with long-time coach his previous coach.
Currently working with Thomas Johansson and Goetzke, Medvedev has consistently improved in the past month - climaxing in a hard-fought three-set win over Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
This represents his maiden trophy after the 2023 Rome Masters and initial on a hard surface from that period of that year.
The win also indicates Medvedev has won twenty-one victories at twenty-one distinct competitions.
"For the first time I have attended a event with my children at once, so to win a championship is really nice," commented ranked player the champion.
"This championship is in tribute of my younger daughter my daughter, because the initial championship I won when my older daughter Alisa was born was for her."
The tennis star, the 2021 US Open champion, had failed in his last six title deciders, including in Halle previously this season.
The player's counter-punching strategy and regular emotional displays on court had led commentators to wonder if his capacity to compete at the top level was concluded.
But the 29-year-old has made changes in the past month, making an effort to advance forward and compete aggressively, supported by an better service.
The champion fought back from a disadvantage in the opening set against the challenging opponent, winning four of the concluding five points to gain the advantage.
Both players swapped breaks in the following set before Moutet, bidding for his initial tour championship, gained dominance to force a decider.
He defended four initial break points in a close third set before the Russian won the break to 15 to serve for the match.
Fittingly, he secured the title with a point at the net area, with Moutet unable to control a return after over two and a half hours.
