Resurgent Daniil Medvedev Wins First Title in Nearly 30 Months
Nineteen of the Russian's 21 victories have been won on hard surfaces
A comeback Daniil Medvedev won his first title for nearly 30 months with a win over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open championship match.
The athlete, a former world number one, has experienced a torrid season, winning just one win at the big events and experiencing a setback at the US Open.
His unpredictability on the ATP Tour - and struggles with his service game in specific - resulted in him exiting of the top ten and eventually splitting with long-term mentor Gilles Cervara.
Currently working with Johansson and his other coach, he has consistently progressed in the last few weeks - culminating in a closely contested competitive victory over opponent Corentin Moutet.
This represents his maiden title following the 2023 Rome Masters and first on a hardcourt since spring of that year.
Success also signifies he has secured twenty-one titles at 21 various tournaments.
"It's the first time I have attended a tournament with my two daughters at once, so to secure a championship is particularly special," commented world number 14 Medvedev.
"This victory is in tribute of my child her name, because the first title I achieved when my first daughter her name was born was for her."
The athlete, the 2021 US Open champion, had failed in his previous six championship matches, featuring in the German tournament previously this season.
Medvedev's counter-punching strategy and recurring reactions on the tennis court had caused commentators to doubt if his capacity to play at the elite level was over.
But the player has altered his approach in the last few weeks, making an effort to approach the net and perform aggressively, supported by an improved serve.
The champion recovered from a disadvantage in the first set against the difficult Moutet, securing four of the last five games to gain the advantage.
The competitors exchanged service breaks in the second set before the Frenchman, striving for his initial tour victory, seized the initiative to force a final set.
He defended four early-game opportunities in a close deciding set before the champion secured a break to fifteen to close out the victory.
Appropriately, he secured the win with a point at the front of the court, with his opponent failing to manage a volley after over two and a half hours.
