Revitalized Medvedev Claims First Trophy in 882 Days
19 of Medvedev's twenty-one titles have been won on hard surfaces
A resurgent Daniil Medvedev won his initial trophy for over two years with victory over Corentin Moutet in the competition title decider.
The Russian, a ex- world number one, has experienced a torrid year, achieving just one match at the major tournaments and experiencing a difficult moment at the US Open.
Medvedev's inconsistency on the tennis tour - and issues with his serve in especial - resulted in him falling of the world's top 10 and ultimately parting ways with long-term mentor Gilles Cervara.
Presently working with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, Medvedev has consistently improved in the recent weeks - peaking in a hard-fought 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over challenger Moutet.
It is Medvedev's initial championship after the Rome competition and initial on a hard court since spring of that year.
The win also indicates the Russian has secured 21 victories at 21 distinct events.
"It's the first time I'm at a event with my two daughters together, so to get a trophy is really nice," stated world number 14 Medvedev.
"This title is in honour of my younger daughter her name, because the maiden victory I got when my child her name was born was for her."
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, had lost his previous six finals, including in the German tournament in the past months.
Medvedev's retrieving play style and frequent emotional displays on court had prompted commentators to wonder if his ability to play at the highest level was concluded.
However the athlete has altered his approach in the last few weeks, making an effort to come to the net and play positively, supported by an better serve.
The champion recovered from a deficit in the first set against the difficult opponent, taking four of the concluding five points to go ahead.
The competitors swapped breaks in the second set before Moutet, attempting for his first tour victory, gained dominance to force a final set.
Moutet defended four initial break points in a tight deciding set before the champion secured a break to that score to close out the victory.
Fittingly, he clinched the win with a rally at the net area, with the Frenchman unable to control a shot after over two and a half hours.
