19 of Daniil Medvedev's 21 titles have been won on hardcourt
A resurgent Daniil Medvedev won his first championship for over two years with a win over opponent Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
Medvedev, a former top-ranked player, has had a challenging season, winning just a single victory at the major tournaments and undergoing a difficult moment at the US Open.
Medvedev's unpredictability on the tennis tour - and issues with his serving in particular - resulted in him dropping out of the top ten and ultimately separating with long-term mentor his previous coach.
Presently training with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, he has gradually progressed in the recent weeks - culminating in a tightly fought three-set win over challenger Corentin Moutet.
It is the player's first trophy after the 2023 Rome Masters and maiden on a hard surface since March of the previous year.
Success also indicates Medvedev has won 21 victories at 21 distinct competitions.
"This marks the first occasion I have attended a tournament with my two daughters at once, so to secure a trophy is especially meaningful," commented world number 14 Daniil Medvedev.
"This title is in honour of my child Victoria, because the initial championship I won when my child Alisa was born was for her."
The tennis star, the past champion, had failed in his past six finals, featuring in Halle previously this season.
His defensive approach and frequent outbursts on court had prompted commentators to question if his capacity to play at the elite level was finished.
Yet the 29-year-old has altered his approach in recent weeks, making an effort to come to the net and perform assertively, reinforced by an better service.
The champion came back from a deficit in the initial set against the difficult Frenchman, taking four of the concluding five games to gain the advantage.
The pair swapped break points in the second set before the challenger, bidding for his initial ATP Tour championship, seized the initiative to push for a third set.
The opponent defended four early opportunities in a close third set before Medvedev broke to fifteen to secure the win.
Suitably, he earned the title with a rally at the net, with the Frenchman failing to manage a return after a lengthy match.
