Resurgent Daniil Medvedev Claims First Championship in Nearly 30 Months
19 of Daniil Medvedev's 21 titles have been achieved on hardcourt
A revitalized the Russian player claimed his maiden trophy for nearly 30 months with success over opponent Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
The Russian, a ex- world number one, has endured a challenging period, achieving just one win at the big events and undergoing a setback at the New York tournament.
Medvedev's unpredictability on the professional circuit - and struggles with his serve in specific - led to him falling of the top ten and finally parting ways with long-time mentor Gilles Cervara.
Presently collaborating with Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, the tennis star has steadily improved in the recent weeks - climaxing in a closely contested competitive win over Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
This represents Medvedev's maiden title after the Rome competition and initial on a hardcourt after that period of that year.
Victory also signifies he has won 21 victories at 21 various competitions.
"For the first time I have attended a tournament with my children together, so to secure a championship is really nice," commented world number 14 the champion.
"This championship is in tribute of my younger daughter Victoria, because the initial championship I achieved when my first daughter my daughter was born was for her."
The tennis star, the past champion, had been defeated in his previous six finals, featuring in the German tournament in the past months.
His defensive play style and regular reactions on the playing surface had caused commentators to wonder if his ability to compete at the elite level was finished.
However the player has implemented adjustments in the last few weeks, striving to come to the net and perform aggressively, backed up by an improved serving game.
Medvedev fought back from a break down in the opening set against the difficult Moutet, securing 4 of the final five games to take the lead.
The competitors traded breaks in the second set before Moutet, attempting for his first ATP Tour championship, gained dominance to force a final set.
He rescued 4 early-game break points in a tight deciding set before Medvedev won the break to that score to serve for the match.
Appropriately, the winner clinched the title with a shot at the net, with the Frenchman failing to manage a volley after two hours and 38 minutes.
