Revitalized Daniil Medvedev Claims Maiden Title in Nearly 30 Months
Nineteen of Medvedev's twenty-one victories have been earned on hard surfaces
A revitalized Daniil Medvedev secured his maiden trophy for over two years with victory over opponent Moutet in the Almaty Open championship match.
The athlete, a former number one, has experienced a challenging year, managing just a single victory at the Grand Slams and undergoing a meltdown at the American major.
Medvedev's inconsistency on the tennis tour - and issues with his serve in particular - led to him dropping out of the elite rankings and finally parting ways with former coach Cervara.
Now working with Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, Medvedev has gradually improved in the recent weeks - peaking in a tightly fought competitive win over opponent Moutet.
It is the player's initial title following the Italian tournament and maiden on a hard surface after March of that year.
Success also indicates the Russian has won 21 championships at twenty-one different tournaments.
"It's the first time I'm at a tournament with my two daughters together, so to secure a championship is particularly special," said world number 14 the champion.
"This title is in dedication of my child Victoria, because the first title I won when my child my daughter was born was for her."
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, had lost his last six finals, featuring in Halle earlier this year.
The player's defensive approach and regular emotional displays on court had caused some to doubt if his capacity to compete at the elite level was over.
However the athlete has implemented adjustments in the last few weeks, making an effort to come to the net and perform assertively, reinforced by an enhanced serve.
Medvedev recovered from a disadvantage in the initial set against the tricky opponent, winning four of the last five exchanges to take the lead.
The competitors exchanged break points in the following set before Moutet, attempting for his first professional victory, seized the initiative to push for a final set.
Moutet defended four initial opportunities in a close third set before Medvedev secured a break to that score to close out the victory.
Suitably, he secured the title with a shot at the front of the court, with his opponent unable to manage a volley after a lengthy match.
