Revitalized Medvedev Wins Maiden Championship in Nearly 30 Months
Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's 21 victories have been earned on hard courts
A comeback Daniil Medvedev claimed his maiden trophy for nearly 30 months with a win over Frenchman Moutet in the Almaty Open championship match.
The athlete, a ex- world number one, has experienced a challenging year, achieving just one win at the major tournaments and experiencing a meltdown at the US Open.
His inconsistency on the ATP Tour - and difficulties with his serving in especial - led to him exiting of the world's top 10 and eventually splitting with long-time mentor Cervara.
Currently collaborating with his coach and Rohan Goetzke, he has consistently improved in the past month - culminating in a closely contested three-set victory over opponent Corentin Moutet.
This marks Medvedev's first title following the Italian tournament and initial on a hard court since that period of the previous year.
Success also indicates he has won 21 titles at twenty-one different competitions.
"This marks the first occasion I am participating in a competition with my children at once, so to win a trophy is particularly special," commented world number 14 Daniil Medvedev.
"This victory is in tribute of my younger daughter Victoria, because the first title I won when my older daughter Alisa was born was for her."
Medvedev, the former major winner, had failed in his previous six title deciders, featuring in Halle earlier this year.
Medvedev's retrieving play style and recurring emotional displays on the tennis court had led observers to question if his ability to perform at the elite level was concluded.
Yet the 29-year-old has altered his approach in the last few weeks, striving to approach the net and perform positively, backed up by an improved serving game.
Medvedev recovered from a break down in the initial set against the difficult Moutet, winning four of the final five points to gain the advantage.
The competitors traded breaks in the following set before the challenger, attempting for his first professional victory, took control to create a decider.
He rescued 4 early chances in a close third set before Medvedev secured a break to fifteen to serve for the match.
Fittingly, the winner clinched victory with a rally at the net area, with the Frenchman unable to manage a return after a lengthy match.