Top seed Daniil Medvedev fought back from losing the opening set to beat world number 128 Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 on Sunday, successfully defending his Almaty Open title. The victory marked the 30-year-old Russian’s fourth ATP Tour trophy of the season and signaled the first successful title defense of his career.
“I always said, it’s just a matter of luck, time, moment,” Medvedev said following the victory. “I was feeling fresh, I was feeling physically good… I’m happy to finally do it I guess,” the former US Open champion added with a smile.
The win boosts the world number five’s efforts to secure an early spot in the eight-man season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, scheduled for Nov. 15-22. Medvedev previously won the tournament in 2020. Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Ben Shelton have already qualified for the event, while injured world number one Jannik Sinner will not participate. Medvedev aims to solidify his spot during upcoming appearances at the Vienna Open starting Monday and the Paris Masters beginning Oct. 31.
In the Almaty final, Medvedev saved two set points to force a first-set tiebreak, but qualifier Basilashvili secured the set with a powerful cross-court backhand after Medvedev netted two winner attempts. Medvedev quickly responded in the second set, controlling backhand rallies and forcing errors from the Georgian.
Playing in his first tour final since 2022, Basilashvili struggled in the deciding set. He netted a backhand drop shot to give Medvedev match point before hitting wide from the baseline to end the contest.
In women’s tennis, top seed Elena Rybakina earned a 6-2, 6-2 victory over unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez on Sunday to retain her Ningbo Open crown. The win marks Rybakina’s first trophy since ascending to the world number one spot and brings her season tally to a tour-leading four titles and 15 career titles overall.
“It’s amazing to play in front of you… it’s my second year here and my second win,” the 27-year-old Kazakh told the crowd in Ningbo. “It’s such a special place for me. Thanks so much Ningbo.”
The triumph in China provides momentum for Rybakina following recent setbacks in Beijing and Wuhan, while strengthening her push for the year-end number one ranking. The three-time Grand Slam champion, who won both the Australian Open and US Open earlier this season, broke Fernandez in the fifth game of the opening set with a crosscourt backhand winner before closing it out in 38 minutes. TRADEMARK POWER: Top seed Rybakina made the breakthrough with her trademark power in the fifth game and then unleashed a searing crosscourt backhand winner to go 4-2 up, before the 27-year-old wrapped up the opening set.
Although world number 30 Fernandez started strongly in the second set, Rybakina broke for a 2-1 lead and cruised to victory. Rybakina will compete in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week before heading to Indian Wells, California, to defend her season finale title starting Nov. 8. With the three-times Grand Slam champion breezing to victory from, world number 30 Fernandez made a bright start to the next set but Rybakina absorbed the pressure and raised her level to force an error and break for 2-1.
