19 of Daniil Medvedev's 21 championships have been earned on hard surfaces
A resurgent Medvedev claimed his maiden championship for nearly 30 months with victory over Corentin Moutet in the tournament title decider.
Medvedev, a ex- number one, has had a difficult year, managing just one match at the big events and experiencing a setback at the New York tournament.
Medvedev's unpredictability on the professional circuit - and struggles with his serving in particular - resulted in him exiting of the elite rankings and eventually splitting with long-time trainer his previous coach.
Currently working with Thomas Johansson and his other coach, the tennis star has steadily advanced in the past month - climaxing in a closely contested competitive victory over opponent Moutet.
This marks the player's first title after the 2023 Rome Masters and maiden on a hard surface from March of the previous year.
The win also means Medvedev has won twenty-one victories at twenty-one different events.
"It's the first time I have attended a competition with my children at once, so to win a championship is particularly special," stated ranked player Medvedev.
"This victory is in dedication of my child Victoria, because the initial championship I achieved when my first daughter Alisa was born was for her."
Medvedev, the former major winner, had lost his past six championship matches, including in that event in the past months.
His defensive play style and frequent emotional displays on the playing surface had led some to wonder if his skill to compete at the top level was over.
Yet the 29-year-old has altered his approach in recent weeks, striving to come to the net and perform assertively, supported by an enhanced serving game.
Medvedev fought back from a deficit in the first set against the difficult Moutet, securing 4 of the last five games to take the lead.
Both players traded service breaks in the middle set before Moutet, striving for his initial professional title, gained dominance to force a decider.
The opponent defended 4 initial opportunities in a tight deciding set before the Russian won the break to that score to serve for the match.
Appropriately, Medvedev clinched victory with a point at the net, with Moutet unable to manage a shot after a lengthy match.
