19 of Daniil Medvedev's 21 titles have been earned on hardcourt
A resurgent Daniil Medvedev won his first title for over two years with victory over Frenchman Moutet in the Almaty Open title decider.
The athlete, a former world number one, has experienced a difficult year, managing just one match at the major tournaments and suffering a difficult moment at the American major.
Medvedev's varied form on the ATP Tour - and struggles with his service game in especial - resulted in him dropping out of the top ten and eventually separating with long-time trainer Cervara.
Presently collaborating with his coach and his other coach, he has steadily improved in the recent weeks - culminating in a closely contested three-set win over challenger Corentin Moutet.
It is his initial title after the Rome competition and initial on a hard surface from that period of that year.
The win also means Medvedev has won twenty-one championships at twenty-one different tournaments.
"For the first time I am participating in a tournament with my both daughters at once, so to secure a championship is really nice," commented world number 14 Daniil Medvedev.
"This title is in dedication of my child Victoria, because the maiden victory I won when my older daughter her name was born was for her."
The tennis star, the past champion, had been defeated in his last six finals, including in Halle earlier this year.
Medvedev's counter-punching play style and frequent emotional displays on the playing surface had prompted observers to question if his ability to compete at the highest level was over.
But the athlete has implemented adjustments in the past month, making an effort to come to the net and compete assertively, backed up by an better serve.
Medvedev recovered from a deficit in the opening set against the difficult Frenchman, winning four of the last five points to gain the advantage.
The pair traded service breaks in the middle set before the challenger, striving for his maiden tour victory, took control to push for a final set.
Moutet saved four early chances in a close final set before the champion won the break to that score to secure the win.
Appropriately, the winner clinched victory with a shot at the front of the court, with Moutet failing to control a shot after over two and a half hours.
