Resurgent Medvedev Secures Maiden Championship in Over Two Years
Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's twenty-one titles have been earned on hard courts
A comeback the Russian player claimed his maiden trophy for over two years with victory over opponent Moutet in the Almaty Open title decider.
The Russian, a former number one, has endured a difficult period, managing just a single victory at the Grand Slams and suffering a difficult moment at the New York tournament.
Medvedev's inconsistency on the ATP Tour - and struggles with his serve in especial - led to him falling of the elite rankings and eventually separating with long-time trainer his previous coach.
Currently training with Johansson and Goetzke, Medvedev has steadily improved in the past month - climaxing in a closely contested competitive victory over Frenchman Moutet.
This marks his first trophy since the Rome competition and first on a hard court after spring of that year.
Success also signifies the Russian has achieved twenty-one victories at twenty-one different tournaments.
"This marks the first occasion I have attended a tournament with my two daughters at once, so to win a title is especially meaningful," commented ranked player the champion.
"This championship is in dedication of my younger daughter my daughter, because the initial championship I achieved when my first daughter Alisa was born was for her."
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, had failed in his previous six championship matches, including in the German tournament previously this season.
Medvedev's counter-punching play style and frequent reactions on the tennis court had prompted observers to wonder if his skill to play at the elite level was over.
Yet the 29-year-old has made changes in the last few weeks, striving to approach the net and play positively, supported by an improved serving game.
Medvedev recovered from a deficit in the first set against the tricky Frenchman, winning four of the last five points to go ahead.
The competitors exchanged breaks in the middle set before the challenger, attempting for his first tour victory, gained dominance to force a final set.
Moutet saved 4 early break points in a tight third set before the Russian broke to fifteen to serve for the match.
Appropriately, the winner secured the win with a point at the net, with his opponent unable to control a volley after over two and a half hours.
