Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's 21 titles have been won on hard courts
A comeback Medvedev won his first championship for over two years with a win over Corentin Moutet in the Almaty Open title decider.
The athlete, a former number one, has had a torrid period, winning just one match at the big events and suffering a difficult moment at the New York tournament.
His unpredictability on the tennis tour - and difficulties with his service game in specific - resulted in him exiting of the elite rankings and eventually separating with long-term trainer Gilles Cervara.
Presently working with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, Medvedev has steadily improved in the last few weeks - culminating in a tightly fought competitive triumph over opponent Moutet.
It is Medvedev's first championship since the Rome competition and initial on a hard surface from March of 2023.
The win also signifies the Russian has secured twenty-one titles at twenty-one distinct tournaments.
"For the first time I have attended a tournament with my two daughters simultaneously, so to get a championship is especially meaningful," commented world number 14 Medvedev.
"This title is in tribute of my younger daughter her name, because the initial championship I got when my child Alisa was born was for her."
The tennis star, the 2021 US Open champion, had been defeated in his previous six title deciders, comprising in Halle earlier this year.
Medvedev's counter-punching approach and regular emotional displays on the playing surface had caused commentators to wonder if his capacity to compete at the top level was over.
However the athlete has implemented adjustments in the last few weeks, making an effort to approach the net and play aggressively, supported by an enhanced serving game.
Medvedev recovered from a deficit in the first set against the difficult opponent, winning four of the last five exchanges to go ahead.
Both players exchanged breaks in the second set before Moutet, attempting for his initial tour championship, seized the initiative to create a third set.
Moutet rescued four initial break points in a close final set before Medvedev broke to fifteen to secure the win.
Fittingly, Medvedev secured victory with a shot at the net area, with Moutet unable to manage a shot after over two and a half hours.
