Follow us on Google Discover Daniil Medvedev finally ended his title drought at the Almaty Open, ending the 882-day wait for a tour-level crown.
Over two years after his triumph at the 2023 Italian Open, Medvedev beat Corentin Moutet in the final of the ATP 250 event in Kazakhstan to hoist his 21st title.
The trophy was his first under the wing of new coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, whom he appointed after his first-round exit at the US Open.
Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Medvedev has been in fine form since hiring Johansson and Goetzke, having enjoyed a successful Asian swing before clinching the Almaty Open title.
Ahead of his run at the Paris Masters, the former world number one reflected on the most recent addition to his trophy cabinet, and how much he values it.
Daniil Medvedev discusses his triumph at the Almaty Open
When asked if the title in Almaty was a weight off his shoulders in an interview with Tennis TV, Medvedev said: “I mean, it depends which way you look at it.
He explained: “Because I always ask myself what is better, being in the final of a [Grand] Slam or winning a [ATP] 250. Probably being in the final of a Slam, and I wasn’t [in the final of a major] this year.”
In 2025, Medvedev recorded his worst Grand Slam season in eight years, having failed to advance past the second round of a major for the first time since 2017.
Australian Open – Second round, lost to Learner TienRoland Garros – First round, lost to Cameron NorrieWimbledon – First round, lost to Benjamin BonziUS Open – First round, lost to Benjamin Bonzi
The Russian continued: “But it’s still a good feeling [to win the Almaty Open]. I would say that when I won it, I was a bit surprised with how long I hadn’t won a title for.
“That actually should be kind of motivation for me to try to repeat another title sooner than this period of time.”
Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesDaniil Medvedev speaks on the importance of his Asian swing
During September and October, Medvedev reached the quarterfinals of the Hangzhou Open before recording back-to-back semifinal finishes in Beijing and Shanghai.
He said of his time on the Asian swing: “I played great there. I played great in Beijing and Shanghai. I didn’t play that badly in Hangzhou, but it could have served better for the match.
Medvedev lost his quarterfinal clash with Yibing Wu at the Hangzhou Open despite serving for the match in the second set.
“Then Vienna was a bit tough physically, but even there, I played two good matches,” said the 29-year-old, who lost to Moutet in his second match at the Vienna Open.
“I know when I play my best tennis, I can win titles and it can be a 250, it can be a Masters 1000 or it can be something bigger, so I’m happy with the way it’s progressing, and I’m looking forward to more.”
In his first match at the Paris Masters, Medvedev will take on Swiss Indoors semifinalist Jaume Munar.