Daniil Medvedev successfully defended his Almaty Open title, defeating Nikolosz Basilashvili 6-7 6-1 6-3 to claim his fourth title of the 2026 season. The Russian rallied from a set down to claim his 25th career ATP Tour title, continuing his strong run and becoming back-to-back champion in Almaty.
Daniil Medvedev Overcomes Early Scare Against Basilashvili
Nikolosz Basilashvili made a strong start, pushing Medvedev throughout the opening set. The Georgian, who came through qualifying to reach the final, showed little sign of being overawed by the occasion and took the set after edging a closely contested tiebreak 8-6.
After losing a tight opening set, Medvedev needed to find a response quickly, and he did exactly that. The former World No. 1 responder well, raised his level, took control of the rallies and kept putting pressure on Basilashvili’s serve, winning the second set 6-1 to level the match.
The third set followed a similar pattern, with Medvedev continuing to dictate play from the baseline. Rather than allowing the lost tiebreak define his performance, Medvedev found his rhythm and remained composed when it mattered most. As the march progressed, the defending champion secured the decisive set and held his advantage to close out the match after 1 hour and 53 minutes.
Despite the early setback, Medvedev managed to turn the match around and finish the week with the trophy.
Medvedev Makes History In Almaty
Having lifted the trophy in 2025, Medvedev returned to the tournament with high expectations.
The victory carried extra significance for the Russian beyond the title itself. The 30-year-old had never successfully achieved a consecutive title defense before returning to Almaty this year. By winning the tournament again this year, he finally broke that streak and became back-to-back champion.
His run to the final included victories over Sho Shimabukuro and Terence Atmane. He then advanced past Alexander Bublik in the semifinals after the Kazakhstani player retired with a knee injury.
Basilashvili has also enjoyed an impressive week, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals to reach his first ATP Tour final since 2022. Following his recent run in Almaty, the Georgian player has officially returned to the top 100.
After coming through qualifying, Nikolosz Basilashvili proved to be a difficult challenge for Daniil Medvedev.
The Last Word
After a successful week in Kazakhstan, the one-time Grand Slam champion will be looking to maintain his level ahead of two major opportunities approaching before the end of the season.
The Almaty triumph adds to Medvedev’s successful 2026 campaign, which has seen him lift trophies in Brisbane, Dubai and Hangzhou this season.
There is plenty to play for before the season comes to an end, with the Vienna Open and Paris Masters next on the schedule. Both tournaments will give Medvedev the confidence needed to test himself against the tour’s best players and pick up valuable results as he looks to secure his place at the ATP Finals in Turin.
For now, his focus will be on celebrating another milestone that had previously eluded him. With the season approaching to its end, the Russian will hope to carry his form into the remaining tournaments and finish the year on a strong note.
Main Photo Credit: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon