19 of Daniil Medvedev's 21 victories have been won on hard surfaces
A comeback Daniil Medvedev won his initial trophy for over two years with a win over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
The Russian, a former top-ranked player, has had a difficult season, winning just a single victory at the big events and suffering a setback at the US Open.
The player's inconsistency on the ATP Tour - and issues with his serving in particular - caused him exiting of the world's top 10 and finally parting ways with long-term mentor his previous coach.
Presently training with his coach and Rohan Goetzke, he has consistently improved in the last few weeks - peaking in a tightly fought three-set victory over Frenchman Moutet.
This represents Medvedev's initial title after the 2023 Rome Masters and first on a hard surface after that period of that year.
Victory also indicates Medvedev has secured twenty-one titles at twenty-one distinct events.
"It's the first time I have attended a competition with my two daughters simultaneously, so to win a title is especially meaningful," stated world number 14 Daniil Medvedev.
"This championship is in tribute of my younger daughter her name, because the first title I got when my older daughter my daughter was delivered was for her."
The athlete, the 2021 US Open champion, had lost his previous six championship matches, comprising in the German tournament in the past months.
Medvedev's defensive approach and regular outbursts on the playing surface had caused some to question if his skill to compete at the elite level was over.
But the 29-year-old has made changes in the past month, striving to approach the net and perform aggressively, reinforced by an enhanced serving game.
The champion fought back from a disadvantage in the opening set against the difficult Moutet, securing 4 of the final five points to go ahead.
The pair traded break points in the second set before Moutet, striving for his first professional title, gained dominance to push for a third set.
He saved four early-game break points in a competitive deciding set before Medvedev secured a break to fifteen to close out the victory.
Appropriately, the winner clinched the win with a point at the front of the court, with his opponent unable to control a volley after a lengthy match.
