A Comeback Win in the Desert
Daniil Medvedev delivered another statement performance at the Almaty Open, beating Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 in just under two hours to successfully defend his title in Kazakhstan. It was the first time in his career he has won the same tournament in back-to-back years, a quirky milestone for a player who now owns 25 singles titles across his ATP career. Competing in his 45th career final, Medvedev dropped the opening set in a tiebreak but quickly took control, dominating the second and third sets with the kind of consistent pressure that has defined his 2026 campaign.
Medvedev credited a bit of good fortune after Alexander Bublik, his semifinal opponent, retired injured, giving the Russian extra rest ahead of the decider. He acknowledged the first set was not without its opportunities, noting he felt physically sharp throughout and remained confident he could turn things around. Basilashvili, meanwhile, was chasing his sixth career title and his first since May 2021, but the Georgian veteran will have to wait a little longer despite a strong run that lifted him back inside the top 100 in the live rankings, climbing approximately 30 spots to around No. 98.
A Packed Season and a Path to Turin
This Almaty triumph is Medvedev's fourth title of 2026, joining victories at the Brisbane International, the Dubai Tennis Championships, and the Hangzhou Open. All four titles have come on hard courts, reinforcing his dominance on that surface. The result also boosted his standing in the Race to Turin, where he sits fifth with a comfortable cushion over Alex de Minaur in the fight for the final ATP Finals spots. Medvedev is set to continue his autumn push at the Vienna Open next week.
TennisDraw users had Medvedev as one of the most-backed finalists in their Almaty bracket picks this fortnight.
