Daniel Medvedev defended a Tour-level title for the first time in Almaty today.

Richard PagliaroOctober 25, 20263 minute read

By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 25, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot

Another jolting blast buzzed by him, but Daniil Medvedev didn’t blink.

Facing a baseline barrage, Medvedev played creative counterstrikes to hit a career milestone today.

The top-seeded Medvedev rallied past Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 to successfully defend his Almaty title.

A precise Medvedev scored his eighth straight Almaty victory.

“It was not easy, but I had my chances in the first set,” Medvedev said. “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.” 

It is Medvedev’s 25th career championship—and marks the first time he’s successfully defended a title. Medvedev, who scored his ATP-best 38th hard-court win of the season, was coming off a run to the Rolex Shanghai Masters semifinal. 

The former world No. 1 said his win via retirement against home hero Alexander Bublik in yesterday’s semifinals gave him an “extra push” to finally defend a title.

“I always said it’s just a matter of time, luck, moment,” Medvedev said of finally defending a championship.  “I was feeling physically fresh, I was feeling good.

“I’m sure Sasha being injured in the semis gave me an extra push for the final. I’m happy to do it. I’m always happy to play here and of course it’s even better to win.”

Playing cleaner combinations, Medvedev committed only 20 unforced errors, 20 fewer than the hard-hitting Basilashvili. The bearded Basilashvili blasted his backhand down the line aggressively, but was staring down a set point at 5-6 in the tie break when Medvedev gave him a reprieve.

Medvedev ran down a drop shot, had a clear look at the pass, but smothered his reply into net.

On the next point, Medvedev had another good look at a forehand pass down the line, but netted it handing Basilashvili his third set point. Banging a backhand strike, Basilashvili snatched a one-set lead.

Undaunted, Medvedev reeled off nine of the next 11 games.

Picking his opponent apart with counter-strikes, Medvedev opened a 3-1 lead in the decisive set.

Serving down championship point at 3-5, Basilashvili pulled off an audacious lunging backhand drop volley to save it in style. Basilashvili belted a deep backhand to save the second championship point only to send a crosscourt forehand long to face a third championship point.

That 39th unforced error proved costly.

On his third championship point, Medvedev drew an errant forehand seizing his fourth title of the year—and successfully defending a title for the first time in his life after one hour, 50 minutes.

Medvedev, who improved to 49-18, joins Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton as the third man to win four titles this season.