19 of Daniil Medvedev's 21 championships have been earned on hard courts
A revitalized Daniil Medvedev claimed his initial title for 882 days with success over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open championship match.
Medvedev, a former top-ranked player, has endured a challenging season, achieving just one match at the big events and undergoing a setback at the American major.
The player's varied form on the ATP Tour - and struggles with his service game in particular - led to him exiting of the top ten and finally parting ways with long-term trainer Gilles Cervara.
Currently training with Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, he has consistently advanced in the last few weeks - culminating in a hard-fought competitive win over challenger Moutet.
This marks Medvedev's maiden trophy following the Italian tournament and maiden on a hard surface from that period of the previous year.
Success also means the Russian has secured 21 titles at 21 different competitions.
"For the first time I am participating in a tournament with my both daughters simultaneously, so to get a trophy is particularly special," commented world number 14 Medvedev.
"This championship is in honour of my child my daughter, because the maiden victory I got when my older daughter her name was born was for her."
The tennis star, the past champion, had failed in his last six championship matches, including in that event earlier this year.
His retrieving play style and regular emotional displays on the playing surface had caused some to wonder if his capacity to play at the highest level was concluded.
However the player has altered his approach in recent weeks, making an effort to approach the net and compete assertively, supported by an improved service.
Medvedev fought back from a deficit in the opening set against the difficult opponent, securing four of the concluding five points to gain the advantage.
Both players traded break points in the second set before the challenger, bidding for his first ATP Tour title, seized the initiative to create a decider.
Moutet rescued 4 early break points in a competitive final set before Medvedev secured a break to fifteen to serve for the match.
Suitably, Medvedev secured the win with a shot at the net area, with his opponent incapable to manage a shot after a lengthy match.
