Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's twenty-one titles have been achieved on hardcourt
A resurgent Daniil Medvedev secured his first trophy for 882 days with success over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
Medvedev, a former number one, has endured a challenging period, winning just one win at the big events and suffering a difficult moment at the New York tournament.
The player's inconsistency on the tennis tour - and struggles with his serving in particular - led to him dropping out of the top ten and ultimately separating with long-term mentor his previous coach.
Presently training with Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, the tennis star has steadily improved in the past month - culminating in a hard-fought competitive victory over opponent Moutet.
It is Medvedev's initial trophy following the 2023 Rome Masters and maiden on a hardcourt since March of that year.
The win also signifies he has achieved twenty-one victories at twenty-one different competitions.
"It's the first time I have attended a competition with my two daughters together, so to secure a trophy is particularly special," commented world number 14 Daniil Medvedev.
"This championship is in honour of my child my daughter, because the initial championship I won when my child my daughter was born was for her."
The tennis star, the past champion, had failed in his previous six finals, featuring in that event earlier this year.
Medvedev's defensive approach and recurring reactions on the playing surface had caused some to wonder if his ability to play at the elite level was concluded.
But the athlete has altered his approach in the last few weeks, striving to come to the net and compete assertively, reinforced by an enhanced service.
Medvedev fought back from a break down in the initial set against the challenging Frenchman, winning four of the final five games to take the lead.
Both players exchanged service breaks in the second set before the Frenchman, striving for his initial ATP Tour victory, took control to create a third set.
He rescued four initial chances in a close final set before Medvedev secured a break to fifteen to close out the victory.
Suitably, he secured victory with a point at the net area, with his opponent failing to control a return after over two and a half hours.
