Daniil Medvedev ended his two-year title drought on Sunday by defeating France’s Corentin Moutet 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to win the ATP 250 tournament in Almaty.
It marks the Russian’s first trophy since his triumph in Rome in May 2023. Since then, the world No. 14 had lost six finals, including the US Open in 2023 and the Australian Open in January 2024.
His 2025 season had been especially tough, with early exits at all four Grand Slams. He crashed out in the second round in Melbourne, and suffered first-round defeats at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
However, a recent coaching change appears to be paying off. After bringing on Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke post-US Open, Medvedev reached the semi-finals in both Beijing and Shanghai—signs of a return to form.
Sunday’s win, the 21st ATP title of his career, also strengthens his bid to qualify for the year-ending ATP Finals. He rises three spots in the Race to Turin rankings, now 12th and just 875 points behind Lorenzo Musetti, who currently holds the final qualification spot.
“It feels great,” Medvedev said after the match. “I wasn’t super happy with my level at some points, but I played well in the most important moments.”
After splitting the first two sets, Medvedev seized control in the decider. He pushed Moutet hard at 2-1, forcing four break points before finally breaking through at 4-3. He then served out the match with confidence.
“The last game was incredible. I’m really happy to take the title,” said Medvedev. “And it keeps my funny streak alive, 21 titles in 21 different cities.”
For 26-year-old Moutet, the wait for a maiden ATP title continues. Sunday’s final marked his third career loss in a final, following defeats in Doha (2020) and Mallorca (2024).
Medvedev is now set to compete at the ATP 500 event in Vienna next week, aiming to continue his surge towards a spot at the ATP Finals in Turin.
AFP
