Revitalized Daniil Medvedev Claims Maiden Championship in Nearly 30 Months
Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's 21 titles have been won on hard surfaces
A resurgent the Russian player claimed his maiden trophy for nearly 30 months with a win over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open championship match.
Medvedev, a former top-ranked player, has had a challenging season, winning just a single victory at the big events and undergoing a difficult moment at the New York tournament.
His inconsistency on the professional circuit - and difficulties with his serve in especial - led to him falling of the top ten and finally separating with former trainer his previous coach.
Presently collaborating with his coach and Rohan Goetzke, Medvedev has steadily progressed in the recent weeks - culminating in a hard-fought 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over Frenchman Moutet.
It is Medvedev's initial title following the Italian tournament and maiden on a hard surface from spring of the previous year.
Success also signifies Medvedev has won twenty-one championships at twenty-one various competitions.
"It's the first time I have attended a tournament with my both daughters at once, so to win a title is really nice," commented world number 14 Medvedev.
"This title is in honour of my younger daughter Victoria, because the first title I won when my child my daughter was born was for her."
The athlete, the 2021 US Open champion, had lost his previous six title deciders, including in the German tournament in the past months.
Medvedev's counter-punching strategy and regular emotional displays on court had prompted commentators to wonder if his skill to compete at the elite level was finished.
However the player has altered his approach in recent weeks, making an effort to come to the net and compete positively, reinforced by an enhanced serve.
Medvedev fought back from a deficit in the first set against the difficult Moutet, taking four of the last five exchanges to go ahead.
The pair traded break points in the following set before the Frenchman, bidding for his first ATP Tour title, seized the initiative to create a decider.
The opponent rescued four early-game opportunities in a close final set before Medvedev broke to fifteen to close out the victory.
Fittingly, Medvedev secured the win with a shot at the net, with Moutet unable to control a return after a lengthy match.
