Comeback Medvedev Secures First Trophy in Nearly 30 Months
19 of Medvedev's twenty-one titles have been won on hard surfaces
A comeback Medvedev won his initial title for over two years with a win over Frenchman Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
Medvedev, a former number one, has had a challenging year, winning just one match at the big events and suffering a meltdown at the American major.
The player's unpredictability on the ATP Tour - and issues with his service game in especial - resulted in him dropping out of the elite rankings and eventually separating with former mentor his previous coach.
Currently training with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, the tennis star has gradually advanced in the recent weeks - climaxing in a closely contested competitive victory over challenger Corentin Moutet.
This marks his maiden championship since the Italian tournament and initial on a hard court since that period of that year.
Success also means Medvedev has achieved 21 victories at twenty-one distinct tournaments.
"It's the first time I'm at a event with my both daughters at once, so to get a championship is really nice," said tennis professional Daniil Medvedev.
"This title is in tribute of my younger daughter Victoria, because the maiden victory I won when my older daughter her name was born was for her."
The tennis star, the former major winner, had failed in his previous six championship matches, including in the German tournament previously this season.
His defensive strategy and regular emotional displays on the tennis court had led some to wonder if his skill to perform at the top level was over.
But the athlete has altered his approach in the past month, attempting to come to the net and perform assertively, backed up by an better service.
Medvedev came back from a disadvantage in the opening set against the difficult Moutet, winning four of the final five points to go ahead.
The pair swapped break points in the middle set before the Frenchman, striving for his initial ATP Tour victory, seized the initiative to force a final set.
Moutet saved four initial opportunities in a close final set before Medvedev broke to fifteen to close out the victory.
Appropriately, he secured victory with a shot at the net area, with the Frenchman incapable to handle a volley after two hours and 38 minutes.
