Daniil Medvedev defends Almaty title to secure 25th career crown
Top seed Daniil Medvedev successfully defended a tour-level title for the first time in his career on Sunday, defeating Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 at the indoor hard-court Almaty Open, atptour.com reported. The victory marks Medvedev’s fourth trophy of 2026 and his 25th tour-level crown overall, following previous hard-court triumphs in Brisbane, Dubai, and Chengdu earlier this season.
How Medvedev fought back in Almaty
Medvedev recovered from failing to convert a set point in the first-set tie-break against Basilashvili. The 30-year-old absorbed his opponent’s powerful ball-striking with deep defensive skills in the second set before attacking his groundstrokes in the decider. He landed 78 percent of his first deliveries in the final set to seal the victory after one hour and 53 minutes. It is just a matter of time, luck, a moment,
Medvedev said regarding his first successful title defense. I was feeling fresh, physically good. Sascha being injured in the semis gave me an extra push in the final and I am happy to finally do it.
Chasing a return to the Nitto ATP Finals
The title run in Kazakhstan strengthens Medvedev’s qualification campaign for the prestigious year-end event in Turin, where he previously lifted the trophy in 2020. The former World No. 1 currently sits fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin with 2,670 points, holding a 790-point cushion over Alex de Minaur outside the cut. Medvedev will next travel to the ATP 500 event in Vienna to lock down his spot alongside Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Ben Shelton.
Basilashvili climbs back into the Top 100
For Basilashvili, reaching the Almaty final marked his first championship match appearance on the ATP Tour since 2022, when he fell to Roberto Bautista Agut in Doha. The five-time tour champion climbs 30 spots to No. 98 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, returning to the Top 100 for the first time since February 2023.
Frequently asked questions about the Almaty Open final
What was significant about Medvedev’s title defense in Kazakhstan?
The victory marks the first time in his professional career that Medvedev has successfully defended an existing tour-level crown.
How many hard-court wins has Medvedev secured in 2026?
Medvedev leads the tour with 38 hard-court match wins this season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Who holds more titles on the ATP Tour this season than Medvedev?
Jannik Sinner leads the tour with six crowns in 2026, two more than Medvedev’s four trophies.