Nineteen of Daniil Medvedev's 21 titles have been won on hard courts
A comeback Daniil Medvedev won his maiden trophy for nearly 30 months with success over opponent Moutet in the Almaty Open final.
Medvedev, a former world number one, has experienced a challenging period, winning just one match at the big events and experiencing a setback at the New York tournament.
The player's inconsistency on the tennis tour - and struggles with his serve in particular - resulted in him falling of the elite rankings and finally parting ways with former coach Cervara.
Now collaborating with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, he has gradually progressed in the last few weeks - culminating in a hard-fought 7-5 4-6 6-3 triumph over Frenchman Moutet.
It is the player's first championship following the 2023 Rome Masters and first on a hardcourt from spring of the previous year.
Success also means he has secured twenty-one victories at twenty-one different events.
"For the first time I have attended a tournament with my children at once, so to win a trophy is really nice," commented tennis professional the champion.
"This championship is in honour of my second daughter my daughter, because the first title I got when my older daughter her name was born was for her."
Medvedev, the former major winner, had been defeated in his past six title deciders, including in the German tournament in the past months.
The player's counter-punching strategy and frequent emotional displays on the playing surface had prompted some to question if his ability to compete at the highest level was finished.
However the 29-year-old has altered his approach in the past month, attempting to advance forward and compete positively, supported by an enhanced serving game.
Medvedev recovered from a deficit in the initial set against the tricky Moutet, taking 4 of the last five exchanges to take the lead.
The competitors traded service breaks in the middle set before the Frenchman, striving for his first professional championship, seized the initiative to force a final set.
The opponent saved 4 initial opportunities in a tight final set before the Russian won the break to 15 to close out the victory.
Fittingly, Medvedev earned the win with a rally at the front of the court, with the Frenchman unable to control a volley after a lengthy match.
