Revitalized Daniil Medvedev Claims First Championship in 882 Days
19 of Medvedev's 21 championships have been earned on hard surfaces
A comeback Daniil Medvedev won his first trophy for over two years with success over opponent Moutet in the Almaty Open title decider.
The athlete, a former world number one, has experienced a challenging year, managing just one match at the Grand Slams and undergoing a meltdown at the US Open.
The player's unpredictability on the ATP Tour - and difficulties with his serving in specific - resulted in him exiting of the top ten and finally separating with former coach Gilles Cervara.
Now training with Thomas Johansson and his other coach, Medvedev has consistently progressed in the recent weeks - climaxing in a closely contested three-set win over opponent Moutet.
It is the player's first trophy following the 2023 Rome Masters and maiden on a hardcourt from spring of 2023.
The win also signifies he has won twenty-one titles at 21 different events.
"It's the first time I'm at a tournament with my children together, so to get a championship is especially meaningful," said world number 14 the champion.
"This victory is in dedication of my child Victoria, because the first title I achieved when my child my daughter was born was for her."
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, had been defeated in his past six title deciders, comprising in the German tournament previously this season.
Medvedev's counter-punching play style and regular outbursts on court had led some to doubt if his capacity to perform at the top level was concluded.
Yet the athlete has altered his approach in the past month, attempting to approach the net and compete positively, backed up by an enhanced serving game.
The champion fought back from a break down in the initial set against the tricky Moutet, securing 4 of the last five games to go ahead.
Both players swapped service breaks in the second set before the Frenchman, striving for his first professional championship, seized the initiative to force a third set.
Moutet rescued 4 initial break points in a competitive final set before Medvedev won the break to that score to close out the victory.
Appropriately, Medvedev earned the title with a rally at the net area, with the Frenchman incapable to control a return after a lengthy match.
