Medvedev defends Almaty Open title from a set down to beat qualifier Basilashvili

Daniil Medvedev finally broke his title-defence jinx on Sunday, coming from a set down to beat Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 in the Almaty Open final in Kazakhstan. The top seed needed 1 hour and 53 minutes to retain the ATP 250 trophy he won 12 months ago, lifting his 25th tour-level title and his fourth of the 2026 season.

How the final unfolded

Basilashvili, who had hammered more aces than anyone in the draw on his way to the final, made the stronger start on the indoor hard court. The opening set went to a tiebreak, where Medvedev let a set point slip and the Georgian edged it 8-6.

The Russian responded by doing what he does best: absorbing pace from deep behind the baseline and making his opponent play extra balls. Basilashvili's error count climbed, and Medvedev ran away with the second set 6-1. In the decider Medvedev became more aggressive with his groundstrokes and was close to untouchable on serve, winning 78 percent of his first-serve points according to the ATP, to close it out 6-3.

A first successful title defence

Remarkably, this was the first time Medvedev has defended a title on tour. He had reached three previous finals as defending champion and lost every one of them. He is also the first man to win the Almaty Open twice.

Speaking after the match, Medvedev suggested the breakthrough had simply been waiting for the right week, saying it was "just a matter of time, luck, a moment."

The win adds to earlier 2026 titles in Brisbane and Dubai, among others, and leaves only Jannik Sinner, with six, ahead of him on this season's title count, per the ATP. Medvedev arrived in Almaty after a deep run at the Shanghai Masters and still won eight straight matches at the event across two years.

Route to the final

Medvedev opened with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Sho Shimabukuro and then beat Terence Atmane 6-4, 6-4. His semi-final against third seed Alexander Bublik ended early: Bublik retired with a knee problem after losing the first set 6-3.

In the other half, Basilashvili beat seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3. That came after wins over Marin Cilic, Facundo Diaz Acosta and Adrian Mannarino as the 34-year-old came through qualifying.

Basilashvili back in the top 100

Defeat still left Basilashvili with plenty to celebrate. Ranked No. 128 when he arrived in Almaty, he jumps 30 places to No. 98 in Monday's rankings, his first appearance inside the top 100 since February 2023. It was also his first tour-level final since 2022. His last title came in Munich in 2021.

He was bidding to become the first qualifier to win the Almaty event. Medvedev now leads their head-to-head 2-0.

What comes next

The 85 points from Almaty keep Medvedev fifth in the Race to Turin, which decides the eight singles places at the season-ending ATP Finals. His next stop is the ATP 500 event in Vienna this week, where he hopes to lock up his Turin place. For fans in Malaysia, the European indoor events usually run from late afternoon into the early hours of the morning local time.

Key takeaways

• Medvedev beat qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 to retain the Almaty Open title.
• It was the first successful title defence of his career and his 25th tour-level title.
• Bublik retired injured in the semi-finals; Basilashvili beat Tsitsipas in three sets.
• Basilashvili, 34, returns to the top 100 at No. 98.
• Medvedev is fifth in the Race to Turin and heads to Vienna next.

FAQ

Who won the 2026 Almaty Open? Daniil Medvedev won the singles title, beating Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 in Sunday's final.

Is this Medvedev's first title defence? Yes. He had lost all three previous finals he played as defending champion, making Almaty the first title he has successfully retained.

Where does Medvedev stand in the race for the ATP Finals? He is fifth in the Race to Turin after Almaty and plays Vienna next as he looks to secure his place among the top eight.

Sources: ATP Tour, Tennis Majors