Everything is ready for the ATP 250 Almaty Open final, to be played this Sunday, October 19th, at Almaty Arena. It marks
Daniil Medvedev's return to his second final of the season. The former World No. 1 will be the favorite against the eccentric Frenchman
Corentin Moutet, who is seeking his first professional title.
The 2021 US Open champion is looking to claim another title, which would be his 21st professional title and 9th at an ATP 250 level. He defeated James Duckworth in three sets in the semi-finals, while Moutet—who is in the third final of his career—comes from eliminating the young American Alex Michelsen.
Medvedev's two-year title wait
For a while now, Daniil Medvedev has lost prominence on the Tour and has struggled to go deep in the tournaments he plays. After being one of the most consistent players on the tour for several years, accumulating a total of 20 titles in 39 finals played, the Russian has dropped in the rankings and currently sits at World No. 18, besides having only played one final so far this year—a defeat to Alexander Bublik at the Halle Open four months ago.
Medvedev had been showing great form in the Asian Swing, reaching the semi-finals at the China Open and Shanghai Masters. Upon his arrival in Almaty, he has capitalized on his favorite status to advance rounds without too many complications, with victories over Adam Walton (7-5, 7-6), Fabian Marozsan (7-5, 6-2), and James Duckworth (6-7, 6-3, 6-2).
This will be a great opportunity for Medvedev to lift a title for the first time in over two years, with his last win coming at the Rome Open back in May 2023. Since then, the Russian has fallen in six consecutive finals—five of them on hardcourts.
Moutet’s flawless run to his third career final
One of the eccentric talents on the Tour, Moutet has found some consistency this season and reached the third final of his career. The 26-year-old entered the top-40 for the first time in his career amid a great year, in which he reached the Mallorca final on grass-courts a few months ago, only to lose to Tallon Griekspoor.
Moutet brings an intrepid and surprising game, in which he is not afraid to alternate underarm serves and some elegant drop shots with a particularly skillful hand. Precisely his unusual style of play has brought him good results this season, and in Almaty, he has been impeccable in reaching the final, not conceding any sets.
The 8th seed overcame Bernard Tomic (6-1, 7-6), Alexander Shevchenko (7-5, 6-3), Jan-Lennard Struff (6-4, 7-5), and Alex Michelsen in the semi-finals (7-5, 6-4). The Frenchman has not been entirely consistent with his serve throughout the tournament, but he has been notable on return, with 15 breaks in his favor and only 4 against.
H2H revenge match: Moutet already holds a surprise win over Medvedev
Medvedev and Moutet have two previous meetings, with the H2H standing at 1-1: the first on grass courts at Mallorca 2021—an easy win for the Russian—while the last time was just a couple of months ago in the DC Open quarter-finals, where Moutet surprisingly turned the score around to secure the victory 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
In that last meeting—at the start of the North American hardcourt swing—Medvedev failed to capitalize on an early lead and was plagued by errors, including 10 double faults and only a 51% first serve percentage, far from the Frenchman's 65% first serve, who took the win while battling cramps and saving six break points against him in the third set to hold onto the advantage.
The realities are immensely different between a player seeking his 21st professional title (in his 40th final) and the Frenchman who is looking for the first of his career, in only his third final so far.
Match Info: Corentin Moutet - Daniil Medvedev
Start time (local): Sun, 19 Oct, 3:00 PM
Start time (your time): Sun, 19 Oct, 6:00 PM
Court: Center Court
Tournament: Almaty Open
Round: Final
Head-to-Head
| Moutet | Medvedev |
|---|
| Total Wins | 1 | 1 |
| Win Streak | 1 | 0 |
| Official Ranking | 41 | 14 |
| Race Ranking | 39 | 15 |
| Live Ranking | 36 (+5) | 14 |
| Live Race Ranking | 33 (+9) | 13 (+2) |
| Age | 26 (19 Apr 1999) | 29 (11 Feb 1996) |
| Residence | Boulogne-Billancourt, France | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Height | 5'8" (175cm) | 6'5" (198cm) |
| Weight | 150lbs (68kg) | 183lbs (83kg) |
| Plays | Left (one/two-handed backhand) | Right (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | loadingLatest Comments
- These guys are either clueless... or covering for Vukov.
The cause (Vukov) happens first; the Effect happens second.
This is looking very volatile and hurtful. We want the Elena we used to know to return. Shame on WTA for giving-in to Vukov's monthly piles of submissions and applications begging for his return to tennis.
- Dementieva is way off-base in her uninformative statements here. Why was this "article" even written? She knows nothing, was not on the tour and, according to her, she did not see nor hear Vukov's actions.
She is absolutely wrong saying "no one knows". There were first-hand witnesses of Vukov's behaviors who were deposed in the investigation. What the investigation revealed were/are officially sealed and no one will ever see the findings without a court order.
Very few people read the final documents -- at least one of them remained silent but did state they were "stunned" by what they read.
Dementieva has no place here.
As for Lena, she is extremely and openly bitter toward WTA and this is not likely to end well. Denial is her perogative; but it will not serve her future in a positive way. She already is acting like Vukov. Elena is not the person she used to be; and that is sad.
- Until WTA and ATP stop acting like he MONOPOLY they are, they are likely to continue to disregard any and all of these proposals.
Currently they practice the Art Of Not Listening (okay, in the one meeting last July the Elitist committee members "listened" and agreed to "consider the options"... then did nothing).
WTA / ATP continue to 'kick the can down the road' in their obstinance.
- Not the brightest ball in the can. Period.
- Sabalenka takes her losses very hard but she absolutely MUST exercise a bit more control over her tongue!
- Chair umpires are more often than not (this season in particular) making what seems like unsatisfactory "discretionary calls".
The disconnect between what are WTA/ATP regulations (written in black & white) in their own Rulebook 2025 and actual ENFORCEMENT of said rules is more than obvious. Time to get Chair Ump's on the same page.
Discretion is not really working once you consider countless non-calls for destroying racquets, smashing balls at or near people on the playing surfaces, smashing balls violently into the stands, cheating the serving time clock -- and, yes, screaming and shouting ad nauseum even through an opponent's returns [Sabalenka's 'performances' are clearly beyond "hindrance" according to rulebook].
These issues can be easily resolved. However, as we have seen all too often, Pro Tennis has no reasonable 'Checks and Balances'. They are a closed door entity... and that is very likely not a sustainable position to uphold in this century of sport.
- Sabalenka should have spoken to Elena at the trophy ceremony using these words someone wrote for her social media post. A 'thank you' post which did not include a mention of Rybakina or her team.
Even taking into account she is not a bright person, and her borderline sarcasm, Sabalenka is a bad loser who cannot control her reactions and/or negative actions during and after matches.
- It would be interesting (to me) to know what made WTA change their minds about the Vukov ban and reinstate him in such a short amount of time?
Possibly the fact they were tired of having to officially deal with Vukov's bi-weekly applications he submitted for his reinstatement? We'll never see the official charges in the documents; they are legally sealed. But some who have seen the charges were stunned by the findings. So his reinstatement made no sense at all to the inner circle.
FWIW: Having attended tourneys since August, I personally witnessed Lena & Vukov sniping and bickering with one another on several occasions.
I doubt this chapter is over.
- Ater years of her ridiculous screaming (which has only increased to the point of unfairness -- aka: "Hinderance") I can no longer justify her actions nor my participation as a viewer. I did watch the Pegula & Anisimova matches out of hope that they win... but without audio.
We have never received an explanation as to why Sabalenka is afforded the privilege of, in her ever-lengthening Amazon yells, allowed to scream all the way through an opponent's strike at the ball. How is that not a 'hinderance'??
I won't get started on the pathetic Saudi Sportswashing of pro sports.
- Iga Swiatek was right. This chair umpire cares more about her looks.
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