Resurgent Daniil Medvedev Secures First Trophy in Nearly 30 Months
Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's 21 championships have been achieved on hard surfaces
A comeback Daniil Medvedev secured his initial title for nearly 30 months with victory over Frenchman Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
The Russian, a ex- top-ranked player, has had a torrid season, managing just one match at the major tournaments and suffering a setback at the American major.
Medvedev's unpredictability on the ATP Tour - and issues with his serving in particular - led to him falling of the world's top 10 and eventually parting ways with former mentor his previous coach.
Currently collaborating with Thomas Johansson and Goetzke, Medvedev has consistently progressed in the recent weeks - climaxing in a closely contested 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over challenger Corentin Moutet.
This marks his initial title after the Italian tournament and initial on a hard court since that period of the previous year.
Victory also means he has secured 21 victories at twenty-one different events.
"For the first time I'm at a event with my two daughters at once, so to win a championship is particularly special," commented world number 14 the champion.
"This title is in tribute of my child my daughter, because the maiden victory I achieved when my older daughter Alisa was born was for her."
The tennis star, the former major winner, had been defeated in his last six championship matches, including in that event previously this season.
His defensive strategy and recurring reactions on the playing surface had prompted some to question if his ability to compete at the top level was finished.
But the 29-year-old has altered his approach in the past month, attempting to come to the net and compete assertively, backed up by an improved serve.
He recovered from a deficit in the opening set against the tricky Frenchman, winning four of the last five games to take the lead.
Both players traded service breaks in the middle set before Moutet, attempting for his maiden professional title, seized the initiative to push for a third set.
The opponent saved four early-game chances in a competitive final set before the Russian broke to that score to secure the win.
Appropriately, the winner secured the win with a shot at the net, with the Frenchman failing to handle a volley after two hours and 38 minutes.