Resurgent Daniil Medvedev Secures First Title in Nearly 30 Months
19 of the Russian's 21 titles have been earned on hard courts
A resurgent Medvedev claimed his initial trophy for nearly 30 months with victory over Corentin Moutet in the competition championship match.
Medvedev, a former number one, has endured a challenging season, managing just a single victory at the Grand Slams and undergoing a meltdown at the American major.
Medvedev's inconsistency on the professional circuit - and issues with his serve in particular - resulted in him falling of the elite rankings and eventually separating with long-time trainer his previous coach.
Presently working with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, Medvedev has gradually improved in the past month - peaking in a hard-fought 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over Frenchman Moutet.
This represents the player's first championship since the Rome competition and initial on a hardcourt after spring of that year.
Success also signifies the Russian has secured 21 titles at 21 different events.
"It's the first time I have attended a competition with my children simultaneously, so to secure a title is especially meaningful," commented ranked player the champion.
"This victory is in dedication of my second daughter her name, because the maiden victory I got when my older daughter Alisa was born was for her."
The tennis star, the former major winner, had failed in his last six title deciders, comprising in that event in the past months.
His counter-punching play style and frequent reactions on court had caused some to question if his skill to compete at the top level was over.
But the 29-year-old has implemented adjustments in the last few weeks, making an effort to advance forward and compete positively, backed up by an better serve.
Medvedev came back from a break down in the opening set against the difficult Frenchman, taking 4 of the final five exchanges to gain the advantage.
The pair traded break points in the middle set before Moutet, striving for his maiden tour championship, took control to force a final set.
Moutet saved four early-game opportunities in a tight final set before the Russian won the break to 15 to close out the victory.
Fittingly, Medvedev earned the title with a point at the front of the court, with the Frenchman failing to handle a volley after over two and a half hours.