ALMATY/STARNBERG, October 18, 2025
Daniil Medvedev is back in a tour-level final, reaching the championship match of the Almaty Open. The six-time Grand Slam finalist advanced to his 40th final, and his second of the 2025 season, ending a six-match losing streak in semifinals at hard-court events. It’s also his first hard-court final since ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells in 2024.
With a 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Australian qualifier James Duckworth on Saturday, Medvedev becomes only the second active male player to reach 40 finals, behind Novak Djokovic. A win in the final would bring him not just his 25th ATP title, but an unprecedented achievement: 25 titles in 25 different countries.
A 40th tour-level final!
Daniil Medvedev beats Duckworth 6-7(8) 6-3 6-2 to reach his first hard-court final since Indian Wells 2024! #AlmatyOpen pic.twitter.com/MDijlXe53R
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 18, 2025
“It feels great, to be honest. Forty finals means I’ve been able to stay consistent for a long time, which is not easy on the tour. I’m proud of that, and I hope there are still many more to come,” Medvedev said.
The 29-year-old Russian is aware of the unique record he could set on Sunday. “I saw that before the match. It’s a fun one. It shows I’ve been able to adapt to a lot of different conditions and play well everywhere. It would be nice to make that happen, but I’ll need to play a really good match tomorrow.”
A packed stadium helped lift Medvedev after he dropped the opening set in his semifinal.
“The crowd was amazing — it was completely full, and the energy was great. They really helped me keep fighting after losing the first set. It gave me extra motivation to push harder and find my best tennis in the second and third.”
Reflecting on a season with its share of challenges, Medvedev admitted those moments shaped his current form.
“Of course, you learn from tough moments, but I still prefer to win! (laughs) That’s just how I am. This season hasn’t always been easy, but I kept working, and now I’m happy that I’ve found a better level again,” the World No. 14 said.
“I think both are important, but I still believe winning is better. (smiles) You can learn from losing, sure, but you feel much better when you win. Novak has 24 Grand Slams. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t wish for more losses to ‘learn.’ You just try to keep improving, keep competing, and move forward.”
As he looks ahead to the final, the focus is clear. “Recovery and preparation. Finals are always special, so I’ll do everything to be ready, enjoy the atmosphere, and hopefully play my best tennis,” Medvedev concluded.
