Revitalized Daniil Medvedev Claims First Title in Nearly 30 Months
Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's 21 victories have been achieved on hardcourt
A resurgent the Russian player secured his first championship for 882 days with victory over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
Medvedev, a former top-ranked player, has had a challenging period, managing just a single victory at the Grand Slams and undergoing a difficult moment at the New York tournament.
His varied form on the ATP Tour - and issues with his service game in particular - caused him exiting of the world's top 10 and ultimately separating with former coach Cervara.
Now training with his coach and Goetzke, the tennis star has gradually improved in the past month - culminating in a tightly fought competitive triumph over Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
This marks the player's maiden title following the Italian tournament and initial on a hard surface after spring of the previous year.
The win also means the Russian has secured 21 championships at 21 distinct competitions.
"For the first time I'm at a competition with my children together, so to win a championship is especially meaningful," said world number 14 Medvedev.
"This victory is in dedication of my younger daughter her name, because the initial championship I won when my first daughter my daughter was born was for her."
The athlete, the former major winner, had lost his past six championship matches, featuring in that event earlier this year.
The player's defensive strategy and regular emotional displays on the tennis court had prompted some to question if his skill to compete at the highest level was finished.
Yet the athlete has altered his approach in the past month, attempting to advance forward and compete aggressively, supported by an improved service.
Medvedev fought back from a break down in the opening set against the challenging Moutet, taking 4 of the concluding five exchanges to go ahead.
The competitors traded break points in the middle set before the challenger, attempting for his initial professional victory, took control to force a third set.
Moutet defended four initial chances in a close final set before the champion secured a break to 15 to secure the win.
Appropriately, Medvedev earned the win with a rally at the net area, with his opponent unable to handle a shot after two hours and 38 minutes.
