Medvedev Beats Basilashvili to Defend Almaty Open Title
Daniil Medvedev rallied past qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 on Sunday to defend his Almaty Open title. It was his 25th career title, his fourth this year, and the first title he has ever successfully defended.
Key points
- Top seed Daniil Medvedev beat Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 in the Almaty Open final on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
- Medvedev, the world number five, had his chances in the first set.
- Medvedev regained control in the second set and won it 6-1.
Top seed Daniil Medvedev beat Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 in the Almaty Open final on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The win defended the title Medvedev won last year at the same tournament. It was his fourth trophy on the ATP Tour this year and the 25th championship of his career. TennisNow reported that it was also the first time Medvedev has successfully defended a title, and that the final gave him his eighth straight win in Almaty.
A first set that slipped away
Medvedev, the world number five, had his chances in the first set. Reuters reported that he saved two set points to force a tiebreak, but Basilashvili took the tiebreak and with it the set. Basilashvili came into the final as a qualifier ranked 128th in the world. He was playing his first tour final since 2022, and for one set he matched the top seed.
Control from the second set
Medvedev regained control in the second set and won it 6-1. In the third set, Basilashvili netted a backhand drop shot to bring up Medvedev's first match point, and then shot wide to lose the match, according to Reuters. The final lasted one hour and 50 minutes. Medvedev made 20 unforced errors, 20 fewer than Basilashvili, and the win took his season record to 49-18, according to TennisNow. The same report said Medvedev joins Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton as the third man to win four titles this season.
Medvedev said after the match, in comments carried by TennisNow: "It was not easy, but I had my chances in the first set. So I knew I would have my chances to turn the match around. It was not easy, but I'm happy to do so of course." Reuters also carried Medvedev saying of his first successful title defense: "I always said, it's just a matter of luck, time, moment."
What the win means for Turin
The win improves Medvedev's hopes of securing his place early at the ATP Finals in Turin, which run from November 15 to 22 and which he won in 2020, Reuters reported. Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton have already qualified for Turin, while the injured Jannik Sinner will not play there, according to the same report. Medvedev is set to play the Vienna Open starting Monday and then the Paris Masters from October 31. His week in Almaty ended with a trophy, a defended title for the first time in his career, and a stronger position in the race for Turin with two tournaments left before the Finals.