Daniil Medvedev defended his Almaty Open title on Sunday, recovering from a first-set loss to beat Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3. The victory gave the world No. 5 his fourth ATP Tour title of the 2026 season and the 25th of his career. It was also the first time the 30-year-old Russian successfully defended a tour-level title, strengthening his position in the race for the ATP Finals in Turin.
Basilashvili took the opening set
The Georgian qualifier entered the final ranked well outside the top 100 but played aggressively from the start. He saved break points and took advantage of Medvedev’s missed opportunities in the tiebreak.
Winning the first set forced the defending champion to change the rhythm of the match.
Medvedev responded immediately
The second set was far more one-sided. Medvedev extended rallies, attacked Basilashvili’s backhand and reduced his own unforced errors.
The shift in consistency allowed him to take control and force a deciding set.
Serve became a major advantage
Medvedev finished with 22 aces, giving him a large number of free points in pressure situations.
Basilashvili managed only three aces and could not create enough sustained pressure on the Russian’s service games.
The deciding set turned on errors
Basilashvili’s level dropped as the match progressed. His unforced-error total climbed while Medvedev stayed patient from the baseline.
A missed drop shot and later baseline errors opened the door for the decisive break.
A first successful title defense
Medvedev has won major trophies on hard courts around the world, but until Sunday he had never successfully defended an ATP title.
That unusual statistic had followed him despite a long career near the top of the rankings.
Fourth title of the season
The Almaty win added another trophy to a strong 2026 season. Medvedev’s ability to remain productive deep into the year has improved his chances of returning to the season-ending championship.
Consistency across smaller and larger events can be crucial in the ATP race.
Turin is the next major target
The ATP Finals field includes the top eight eligible players. Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton have already secured places, while Jannik Sinner is expected to miss the event because of injury.
That opens an opportunity for Medvedev to lock in qualification before the final weeks.
Vienna and Paris come next
Medvedev is scheduled to play the Vienna Open before heading to the Paris Masters.
Strong results at either event could remove most remaining uncertainty around his place in Turin.
Basilashvili’s run was still significant
Despite losing the final, Basilashvili produced his best tour-level week in years. He reached his first ATP final since 2022 after coming through qualifying.
The run should produce a substantial ranking boost and restore confidence after several difficult seasons.
Medvedev’s game still suits indoor hard courts
His deep return position, flat groundstrokes and strong first serve are particularly effective on controlled indoor surfaces.
That profile makes him a dangerous opponent in Vienna, Paris and potentially Turin.
Almaty adds momentum at the right time
The season is entering its final stretch, when fatigue often becomes a major factor. Medvedev said he felt physically fresh during the week.
That could matter as the schedule tightens and the competition for ATP Finals places becomes more intense.
Sources
- Reuters, Oct. 25, 2026
- ATP Tour tournament data
Experience helped in the deciding set
Medvedev has played dozens of high-pressure finals, while Basilashvili entered Almaty trying to complete an unexpected run from qualifying. Once the match moved into a third set, the Russian’s ability to manage long rallies and choose lower-risk patterns became more important. He did not need to dominate every point; he needed to make his opponent play one extra ball.
That tactical patience has long been one of Medvedev’s strengths on hard courts and remains a major reason he continues to compete near the top of the tour in his thirties.
The title also adds useful ranking points before two tournaments with much larger fields and heavier pressure. Entering Vienna and Paris with a trophy can reduce the psychological burden of chasing qualification points. Medvedev will still need to manage workload carefully, because the value of reaching Turin depends on arriving healthy enough to compete against the season’s strongest players.
