Daniil Medvedev’s 882-day (29 months) title drought is finally over. The former World No. 1 captured his 21st tour-level crown at the Almaty Open on Sunday, securing a hard-fought victory against Frenchman Corentin Moutet with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted two hours and 29 minutes. This victory marks his first title since his win in Rome in 2023, having experienced final heartbreaks at several tournaments, including the US Open and the Australian Open in the interim.

Following his win, Medvedev expressed his happiness, stating, “It is great. I was not super happy with how I played in some moments of the match, but to win feels amazing. In the most important points I played good. The last game was incredible and I am happy to win the title. It continues my funny story of 21 titles in 21 different cities.”

This triumph also boosts his faint hopes for the ATP Finals, moving him up three spots to 12th in the ATP Live Race To Turin. Beyond ending a long wait for a trophy, this victory in Kazakhstan has propelled Medvedev into a tie with Jannik Sinner in a significant career statistic. As highlighted by tennis journalist José Morgado on X, this 21st career title brings Medvedev level with Sinner, as both players now sit alongside each other with 21 ATP singles titles each on the active players’ list.

This achievement narrows one of the key gaps between the two rivals, who have had a compelling rivalry on the tour. While Sinner has had the upper hand in their recent encounters, leading their head-to-head 8-7, their parallel ascent in career titles adds another layer to their competition.

The statistic underscores Medvedev’s remarkable consistency at the top level of the sport, having reached 40 tour-level finals in his career, and places him in an elite group of active champions. However, there was another heartfelt moment right after the Russian tennis star secured that victory.

Daniil Medvedev celebrated his title in the best way possible

Just a few weeks back, Daniil Medvedev opened up about the sport, saying, “Yes, I mean, what’s beautiful about tennis, what’s difficult about this sport, and sorry, I go a bit far, I sometimes act a bit crazy on the court. A lot of fans come to see me in France or Monaco. They say to me: ‘Listen, I’m like you, I’m calm. In life, I’m calm. On the road, I’m calm. It doesn’t matter. I argue with my wife, I’m calm. And as soon as I go to play tennis, I go crazy, I go crazy.’ Tennis can make you crazy.”

So, this response really addresses the episodes he’s experienced from sheer frustration, which he often lets out on the court. He’s faced fines a few times, like at the 2025 US Open, where he ended up paying $42,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct and racket abuse. Fast forward to today, and everything has shifted. He finally remembers what it feels like to taste a title victory.

As soon as he clinched the victory in Almaty, he hurried over to give a warm hug to his wife, Daria Medvedev, along with their older daughter, Alisa, and their little one, Victoria.

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“It’s the first time I’m at a tournament with my two daughters together, so to get a title is really nice,” said Medvedev on court. “This title is in honour of my second daughter, Victoria, because the first title I got when my first daughter Alisa was born was for her.”

This was a celebration that was well-earned. Medvedev’s choice to shake up his coaching team after the US Open has really paid off. Having Thomas Johansson alongside Rohan Goetzke has definitely given his game a boost in ways that stats just can’t capture. Ever since he made the switch, Medvedev has been on fire with a 12-3 record, and it seems like he’s not slowing down at all.