Comeback Daniil Medvedev Secures Maiden Championship in Nearly 30 Months
19 of Daniil Medvedev's 21 titles have been achieved on hard courts
A revitalized Daniil Medvedev won his first title for nearly 30 months with a win over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open title decider.
The Russian, a ex- world number one, has experienced a torrid period, winning just one match at the big events and undergoing a meltdown at the American major.
The player's inconsistency on the professional circuit - and difficulties with his serving in especial - resulted in him dropping out of the world's top 10 and ultimately splitting with long-time mentor Gilles Cervara.
Currently working with Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, Medvedev has gradually improved in the past month - peaking in a closely contested 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over opponent Corentin Moutet.
This marks his first trophy following the Rome competition and first on a hard surface after spring of the previous year.
Victory also means the Russian has secured twenty-one victories at 21 distinct competitions.
"For the first time I have attended a competition with my both daughters at once, so to secure a trophy is particularly special," stated ranked player Daniil Medvedev.
"This title is in dedication of my child my daughter, because the first title I got when my older daughter her name was born was for her."
The athlete, the 2021 US Open champion, had been defeated in his last six championship matches, featuring in Halle in the past months.
His defensive approach and regular reactions on the playing surface had led observers to wonder if his ability to perform at the highest level was finished.
Yet the athlete has altered his approach in recent weeks, striving to come to the net and perform positively, backed up by an enhanced service.
Medvedev fought back from a deficit in the opening set against the challenging Frenchman, winning four of the last five games to take the lead.
The pair swapped break points in the middle set before the Frenchman, attempting for his first professional victory, seized the initiative to create a final set.
He rescued four early break points in a tight deciding set before the Russian won the break to that score to close out the victory.
Suitably, Medvedev secured the win with a rally at the net area, with his opponent unable to control a shot after a lengthy match.
