Comeback Daniil Medvedev Secures Maiden Title in Nearly 30 Months
Nineteen of Medvedev's 21 victories have been won on hard courts
A comeback Medvedev claimed his initial championship for nearly 30 months with success over opponent Moutet in the tournament championship match.
The Russian, a former number one, has had a difficult season, achieving just a single victory at the Grand Slams and undergoing a setback at the American major.
Medvedev's unpredictability on the ATP Tour - and struggles with his serve in particular - caused him exiting of the top ten and finally splitting with long-time trainer Gilles Cervara.
Currently training with Johansson and Goetzke, he has steadily progressed in the recent weeks - peaking in a closely contested competitive victory over opponent Moutet.
This represents his maiden title after the Rome competition and first on a hardcourt from March of the previous year.
Success also signifies he has achieved twenty-one championships at twenty-one distinct events.
"It's the first time I am participating in a competition with my both daughters simultaneously, so to get a championship is especially meaningful," stated world number 14 Daniil Medvedev.
"This championship is in honour of my child Victoria, because the maiden victory I got when my first daughter Alisa was born was for her."
The tennis star, the former major winner, had lost his previous six finals, featuring in Halle previously this season.
The player's counter-punching strategy and regular reactions on the playing surface had prompted commentators to question if his ability to compete at the elite level was concluded.
However the athlete has made changes in recent weeks, striving to come to the net and play positively, reinforced by an improved service.
He recovered from a break down in the opening set against the challenging Moutet, taking 4 of the concluding five exchanges to gain the advantage.
The pair exchanged break points in the following set before the challenger, attempting for his maiden ATP Tour victory, seized the initiative to create a third set.
Moutet defended 4 early-game opportunities in a competitive third set before the Russian broke to fifteen to serve for the match.
Appropriately, he secured the win with a rally at the front of the court, with the Frenchman incapable to handle a volley after over two and a half hours.
