Medvedev Ends Long Wait with Almaty Breakthrough
Daniil Medvedev endured 882 days of title-less tension before outlasting Corentin Moutet’s clever variations in the Almaty Open final, securing a vital hard-court win that sharpens his late-season edge.
In the brisk October chill of Almaty, Daniil Medvedev stepped onto the hard courts carrying the weight of six lost finals since his last victory in Rome back in 2023. The 29-year-old faced a crafty challenge from Corentin Moutet, the left-handed Frenchman seeking his first tour-level title after dropping no sets to reach the decider. Over two hours and 29 minutes, Medvedev’s flat groundstrokes and probing returns prevailed in a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 battle, ending his drought at the ATP 250 event and marking his 21st career crown—all from distinct tournaments.
“It is great. I was not super happy with how I played in some moments of the match, but to win feels amazing. In the most important points I played good,” Medvedev said. “The last game was incredible and I am happy to win the title. It continues my funny story of 21 titles in 21 different cities.”
Countering Moutet‘s slice and spin
Moutet’s underspin slices and drop shots disrupted early rhythm, forcing Medvedev to scramble with quick footwork on the medium-paced surface. He adapted by advancing inside the baseline, redirecting crosscourt with flat backhands to neutralize the angles and build one–two combinations that pinned his opponent deep. As the crowd’s murmurs swelled in the third set, Medvedev’s down-the-line forehands started landing with precision, turning Moutet’s wizardry into extended rallies he could dominate.
The Frenchman’s variety kept the match entertaining, but Medvedev’s improved movement—honed on Almaty’s consistent bounce—allowed him to absorb the tricks and strike back with inside-out winners. Moutet pushed hard in the second set, breaking to level the score, yet couldn’t sustain against the Russian’s relentless returns. This tactical shift not only secured the win but highlighted Medvedev’s growth in handling disruption without losing composure.
Erasing ghosts of final defeats
Medvedev’s journey since Rome had been marked by heartbreak in championship matches at the US Open, Beijing, Vienna, the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Halle, each loss testing his resolve on hard courts. In Almaty, he broke that pattern, holding firm in clutch service games to claim his 19th hard-court title and join Novak Djokovic as the only active players with such a tally—the Serb leads with 71. The victory lifted a mental burden, his post-match relief evident amid the roaring local fans, signaling a return to the baseline dominance that defined his peak.
Under new coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, whom he teamed with after the US Open, Medvedev has compiled a 12-3 record, including semifinals in Beijing and Shanghai. Their focus on proactive positioning helped him counter Moutet’s flair, mixing crosscourt patterns with aggressive net approaches to close points efficiently. This run underscores a broader resurgence, where every adjustment chips away at past frustrations, rebuilding confidence stroke by stroke.
Reviving the race to Turin
The Almaty triumph boosts Medvedev’s slim chances at the Nitto ATP Finals, lifting him three spots to 12th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, 875 points behind eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti. As a former year-end No. 1, he now carries momentum into the hard-court swing, where his flat trajectory thrives against the field’s top baseline grinders. Moutet, reaching his third tour final and on track to become the ninth first-time winner of 2025, climbs five places to No. 36 in the live rankings, nearing a career high despite the loss.
With the season’s close approaching, Medvedev’s renewed tactical edge—forged in Almaty’s unforgiving tempo—positions him to challenge for that final qualification spot. The crowd’s energy, peaking as he sealed the decider, mirrored his own building assurance, transforming drought into drive. Looking forward, this title sets a tone of calculated aggression, ready to propel him through the autumn battles ahead.
