Comeback Medvedev Wins Maiden Championship in Nearly 30 Months
19 of Medvedev's 21 victories have been earned on hard courts
A comeback Medvedev claimed his initial trophy for over two years with victory over Frenchman Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
Medvedev, a ex- world number one, has experienced a challenging period, winning just one match at the Grand Slams and suffering a setback at the New York tournament.
The player's unpredictability on the professional circuit - and struggles with his serve in specific - resulted in him dropping out of the elite rankings and eventually separating with long-time coach Cervara.
Now collaborating with his coach and his other coach, Medvedev has gradually progressed in the last few weeks - culminating in a hard-fought competitive win over opponent Corentin Moutet.
This represents Medvedev's maiden trophy after the Rome competition and first on a hardcourt from that period of that year.
Victory also means he has achieved 21 titles at twenty-one different tournaments.
"It's the first time I have attended a tournament with my children together, so to get a championship is especially meaningful," commented tennis professional the champion.
"This victory is in tribute of my second daughter her name, because the initial championship I won when my first daughter her name was born was for her."
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, had been defeated in his last six finals, comprising in the German tournament earlier this year.
Medvedev's defensive approach and recurring emotional displays on court had led some to doubt if his ability to play at the top level was finished.
Yet the 29-year-old has made changes in recent weeks, making an effort to advance forward and compete positively, backed up by an improved serving game.
He came back from a break down in the initial set against the challenging Moutet, taking 4 of the last five points to gain the advantage.
Both players traded break points in the following set before the challenger, bidding for his first ATP Tour championship, gained dominance to force a final set.
He defended four initial break points in a competitive third set before the Russian secured a break to that score to close out the victory.
Fittingly, he secured victory with a rally at the front of the court, with Moutet incapable to control a return after over two and a half hours.
