Resurgent Medvedev Wins First Championship in 882 Days
Nineteen of Medvedev's 21 championships have been earned on hardcourt
A resurgent Medvedev won his maiden title for 882 days with success over Frenchman Moutet in the Almaty Open title decider.
The Russian, a former top-ranked player, has experienced a challenging season, achieving just one win at the big events and suffering a setback at the US Open.
Medvedev's inconsistency on the professional circuit - and issues with his service game in particular - led to him falling of the elite rankings and finally splitting with long-term coach Cervara.
Currently training with his coach and his other coach, Medvedev has steadily progressed in the last few weeks - climaxing in a closely contested competitive win over Frenchman Moutet.
This represents Medvedev's first trophy after the Rome competition and first on a hard court after March of that year.
Victory also indicates he has won twenty-one victories at 21 different events.
"For the first time I am participating in a competition with my children at once, so to get a championship is especially meaningful," commented tennis professional Medvedev.
"This title is in dedication of my younger daughter Victoria, because the initial championship I won when my child her name was born was for her."
The athlete, the former major winner, had lost his previous six finals, including in the German tournament earlier this year.
The player's counter-punching play style and frequent outbursts on court had prompted observers to wonder if his ability to compete at the elite level was concluded.
Yet the 29-year-old has made changes in recent weeks, making an effort to approach the net and perform positively, backed up by an improved serving game.
The champion fought back from a break down in the opening set against the difficult opponent, securing 4 of the concluding five points to gain the advantage.
Both players swapped break points in the following set before the challenger, bidding for his initial professional victory, took control to create a final set.
Moutet rescued four initial chances in a competitive final set before the Russian won the break to fifteen to close out the victory.
Suitably, the winner clinched the title with a rally at the net area, with the Frenchman failing to handle a shot after a lengthy match.