Daniil Medvedev, the former World No. 1, is on the cusp of ending his title drought. He's reached his first hard-court final since Indian Wells last year at the Almaty Open, where he defeated James Duckworth in a thrilling match. This victory not only secures his spot in the Nitto ATP Finals for the seventh consecutive season but also propels him closer to his goal of winning his first tour-level title since 2023. Medvedev's performance in Almaty has been nothing short of impressive, following strong semi-final runs in Beijing and Shanghai. With a 2-0 head-to-head record against Duckworth, Medvedev's patience and serving prowess proved decisive. Despite squandering two set points in the first-set tie-break, he remained composed, showcasing his ability to bounce back. This hard-fought win marks Medvedev's 40th tour-level final, making him the second active man after Novak Djokovic to reach this milestone. As he awaits his opponent in the final, either Corentin Moutet or Alex Michelsen, Medvedev's journey in Almaty continues to captivate tennis fans worldwide.
