19 of Daniil Medvedev's 21 championships have been won on hardcourt
A resurgent Daniil Medvedev secured his first title for 882 days with a win over Frenchman Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
The Russian, a former top-ranked player, has endured a challenging season, achieving just a single victory at the Grand Slams and undergoing a meltdown at the New York tournament.
His unpredictability on the tennis tour - and struggles with his serving in especial - resulted in him falling of the top ten and finally splitting with former mentor Cervara.
Presently working with his coach and his other coach, Medvedev has gradually improved in the last few weeks - culminating in a closely contested competitive triumph over opponent Moutet.
It is Medvedev's first trophy after the 2023 Rome Masters and maiden on a hard court since that period of the previous year.
The win also means the Russian has achieved twenty-one championships at 21 distinct competitions.
"It's the first time I'm at a competition with my two daughters at once, so to win a championship is especially meaningful," commented world number 14 Daniil Medvedev.
"This title is in honour of my younger daughter Victoria, because the first title I won when my older daughter Alisa was born was for her."
The athlete, the 2021 US Open champion, had failed in his previous six championship matches, including in Halle in the past months.
Medvedev's retrieving play style and frequent reactions on court had prompted observers to doubt if his skill to play at the highest level was over.
However the 29-year-old has altered his approach in the past month, making an effort to advance forward and compete aggressively, supported by an enhanced serving game.
The champion came back from a disadvantage in the initial set against the difficult Moutet, winning 4 of the final five games to gain the advantage.
Both players exchanged breaks in the following set before Moutet, bidding for his initial tour victory, seized the initiative to create a third set.
The opponent saved four initial chances in a competitive final set before Medvedev broke to fifteen to secure the win.
Appropriately, he clinched victory with a shot at the front of the court, with Moutet incapable to handle a return after two hours and 38 minutes.
