Revitalized Daniil Medvedev Wins First Title in Nearly 30 Months
Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's 21 victories have been achieved on hard surfaces
A comeback Medvedev secured his first trophy for 882 days with success over Corentin Moutet in the competition championship match.
The athlete, a ex- number one, has had a challenging period, achieving just a single victory at the Grand Slams and undergoing a setback at the American major.
His inconsistency on the ATP Tour - and issues with his serve in particular - caused him falling of the elite rankings and eventually separating with long-term coach Gilles Cervara.
Now collaborating with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, Medvedev has gradually improved in the past month - climaxing in a tightly fought 7-5 4-6 6-3 victory over challenger Corentin Moutet.
It is Medvedev's first championship after the Rome competition and first on a hardcourt from spring of that year.
Victory also indicates he has achieved 21 championships at 21 different competitions.
"This marks the first occasion I'm at a competition with my both daughters together, so to get a title is particularly special," said world number 14 Daniil Medvedev.
"This championship is in tribute of my younger daughter her name, because the maiden victory I got when my child Alisa was born was for her."
The athlete, the past champion, had lost his last six championship matches, including in that event earlier this year.
The player's defensive strategy and frequent emotional displays on court had caused some to question if his capacity to play at the highest level was over.
Yet the player has implemented adjustments in the last few weeks, attempting to approach the net and compete positively, supported by an improved service.
Medvedev fought back from a disadvantage in the opening set against the challenging opponent, taking 4 of the last five points to go ahead.
Both players traded breaks in the following set before Moutet, bidding for his initial ATP Tour title, seized the initiative to create a third set.
Moutet rescued four early chances in a close deciding set before Medvedev won the break to that score to close out the victory.
Suitably, Medvedev secured the win with a rally at the net area, with Moutet unable to handle a return after two hours and 38 minutes.
