Revitalized Medvedev Secures Maiden Championship in Nearly 30 Months
19 of the Russian's twenty-one titles have been won on hard courts
A resurgent Medvedev secured his maiden championship for nearly 30 months with a win over opponent Moutet in the competition final.
The Russian, a former top-ranked player, has endured a difficult year, achieving just a single victory at the major tournaments and experiencing a setback at the American major.
His inconsistency on the professional circuit - and struggles with his service game in specific - led to him exiting of the elite rankings and eventually splitting with former mentor his previous coach.
Presently training with Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, he has steadily progressed in the last few weeks - peaking in a tightly fought three-set win over opponent Moutet.
It is the player's first trophy since the Rome competition and first on a hardcourt since spring of the previous year.
Success also indicates Medvedev has secured twenty-one titles at twenty-one distinct events.
"It's the first time I am participating in a tournament with my both daughters at once, so to secure a trophy is really nice," said ranked player Daniil Medvedev.
"This championship is in honour of my child her name, because the maiden victory I achieved when my child Alisa was born was for her."
Medvedev, the former major winner, had been defeated in his past six championship matches, featuring in the German tournament previously this season.
The player's counter-punching strategy and regular outbursts on court had led observers to doubt if his ability to play at the top level was concluded.
But the player has altered his approach in the last few weeks, attempting to approach the net and compete assertively, backed up by an enhanced service.
The champion fought back from a break down in the opening set against the challenging Frenchman, winning four of the concluding five points to gain the advantage.
The pair traded service breaks in the second set before Moutet, bidding for his maiden professional victory, took control to create a final set.
He defended four initial break points in a tight final set before the Russian secured a break to that score to close out the victory.
Fittingly, he clinched the title with a point at the front of the court, with Moutet failing to manage a shot after two hours and 38 minutes.
