Revitalized Daniil Medvedev Secures First Championship in 882 Days
Nineteen of Medvedev's twenty-one victories have been earned on hardcourt
A comeback Medvedev secured his initial championship for over two years with success over opponent Moutet in the Almaty Open championship match.
Medvedev, a ex- number one, has endured a difficult season, achieving just one win at the big events and suffering a difficult moment at the US Open.
The player's unpredictability on the tennis tour - and difficulties with his serve in particular - resulted in him dropping out of the world's top 10 and eventually splitting with long-time coach Cervara.
Now working with Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, Medvedev has consistently improved in the last few weeks - peaking in a tightly fought 7-5 4-6 6-3 victory over challenger Corentin Moutet.
This represents the player's initial title since the Italian tournament and first on a hard surface after March of the previous year.
Success also signifies he has won 21 championships at 21 different tournaments.
"This marks the first occasion I'm at a event with my both daughters at once, so to win a trophy is really nice," commented world number 14 Medvedev.
"This title is in dedication of my child my daughter, because the first title I achieved when my first daughter her name was born was for her."
Medvedev, the past champion, had failed in his previous six championship matches, comprising in Halle previously this season.
Medvedev's counter-punching play style and recurring emotional displays on the playing surface had led some to doubt if his capacity to compete at the highest level was over.
Yet the 29-year-old has altered his approach in the last few weeks, striving to advance forward and play aggressively, supported by an enhanced serving game.
Medvedev came back from a disadvantage in the first set against the difficult Frenchman, securing four of the final five games to go ahead.
The pair traded breaks in the middle set before Moutet, bidding for his maiden tour victory, gained dominance to force a third set.
The opponent defended 4 initial chances in a competitive deciding set before Medvedev won the break to 15 to close out the victory.
Appropriately, he earned victory with a rally at the net, with his opponent unable to handle a shot after a lengthy match.
