Resurgent Daniil Medvedev Claims Maiden Championship in Nearly 30 Months

A resurgent Medvedev claimed his first trophy for 882 days with a win over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open final.

The athlete, a former world number one, has had a torrid season, winning just one win at the Grand Slams and suffering a meltdown at the US Open.

Medvedev's unpredictability on the ATP Tour - and difficulties with his service game in specific - resulted in him falling of the world's top 10 and eventually parting ways with long-term mentor his previous coach.

Now training with his coach and Goetzke, Medvedev has gradually improved in the recent weeks - culminating in a closely contested 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over Frenchman Moutet.

It is the player's first championship following the 2023 Rome Masters and maiden on a hard surface from March of that year.

Success also indicates Medvedev has secured twenty-one titles at 21 distinct events.

"This marks the first occasion I'm at a competition with my two daughters at once, so to win a title is particularly special," said ranked player Medvedev.

"This championship is in honour of my child her name, because the maiden victory I won when my older daughter Alisa was born was for her."

The tennis star, the former major winner, had lost his previous six title deciders, featuring in the German tournament earlier this year.

Medvedev's retrieving play style and recurring reactions on the tennis court had caused observers to wonder if his capacity to play at the highest level was finished.

But the athlete has altered his approach in the past month, striving to advance forward and compete assertively, reinforced by an better serving game.

He fought back from a disadvantage in the opening set against the tricky Moutet, winning four of the final five exchanges to go ahead.

Both players exchanged break points in the following set before Moutet, bidding for his first ATP Tour victory, took control to force a third set.

Moutet defended four early opportunities in a competitive deciding set before Medvedev won the break to fifteen to serve for the match.

Fittingly, the winner secured victory with a shot at the net area, with Moutet failing to handle a return after two hours and 38 minutes.