Comeback Medvedev Wins First Title in Over Two Years
Nineteen of the Russian's twenty-one titles have been earned on hard surfaces
A comeback Medvedev secured his initial trophy for 882 days with victory over opponent Moutet in the competition title decider.
Medvedev, a ex- number one, has had a difficult year, achieving just one match at the major tournaments and suffering a setback at the US Open.
His inconsistency on the ATP Tour - and struggles with his service game in particular - led to him dropping out of the top ten and ultimately separating with former trainer Gilles Cervara.
Presently collaborating with Johansson and Goetzke, Medvedev has gradually improved in the past month - culminating in a hard-fought competitive victory over challenger Moutet.
This represents his first title after the Italian tournament and first on a hard court from March of that year.
Success also signifies the Russian has won twenty-one titles at twenty-one different competitions.
"For the first time I have attended a event with my two daughters together, so to secure a championship is particularly special," stated world number 14 the champion.
"This victory is in honour of my child Victoria, because the initial championship I got when my child Alisa was delivered was for her."
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, had lost his past six championship matches, featuring in that event in the past months.
His counter-punching approach and recurring outbursts on the playing surface had caused observers to question if his ability to play at the highest level was finished.
Yet the athlete has made changes in recent weeks, striving to come to the net and perform assertively, backed up by an better serving game.
He came back from a deficit in the opening set against the difficult Frenchman, securing 4 of the last five points to gain the advantage.
The pair exchanged break points in the second set before the challenger, bidding for his initial ATP Tour victory, took control to create a decider.
He saved 4 initial break points in a tight final set before Medvedev won the break to 15 to close out the victory.
Fittingly, he earned the title with a rally at the net, with the Frenchman unable to handle a volley after two hours and 38 minutes.
