Sunday brought two interesting milestones on the ATP Tour. Lorenzo Musetti won his first title in four years, while Daniil Medvedev finally managed something he had never done before: successfully defend an ATP title.
Musetti beat Taylor Fritz in Lyon, while Medvedev came from a set down to defeat Nikoloz Basilashvili in Almaty. Two different finals, but both marked important moments for the winners.
Musetti Beats Fritz in Lyon to End Title Drought
Lorenzo Musetti produced a strong performance to beat Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4 in 81 minutes and win the Lyon Open title, against the odds.
It is the Italian’s third career ATP title and his first since winning back-to-back tournaments in Hamburg and Naples in 2022. The victory also ended a run of seven consecutive losses in ATP finals, a frustrating record for a player who has shown plenty of quality over the past few seasons.
Musetti had to work hard to reach the final. He came through a three-and-a-half-hour quarterfinal against Luca Van Assche before saving four match points against fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli in the semifinals.
Against Fritz, however, Musetti looked much more comfortable. He broke early in both sets, controlled the baseline exchanges and did a good job of making Fritz work for his points. The American finished with 28 unforced errors, while Musetti kept his own game under control.
After the match, Musetti spoke about the fighting spirit that helped him through the week and how much more relaxed he felt in the final. After several difficult years in terms of results, this was a welcome reward for the Italian.
The title is also a reminder of what Musetti can do when his game comes together. His variety, one-handed backhand and ability to change the rhythm of a rally make him a difficult opponent, particularly on clay.
Medvedev Finally Defends an ATP Title
While Musetti ended a long wait for a trophy, Daniil Medvedev made a little piece of tennis history of his own.
The Russian defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 in the Almaty Open final to win his 25th career ATP title. More importantly, he successfully defended a title for the first time.
It is an unusual statistic for a player of Medvedev’s calibre. Before this week, all 24 of his previous ATP titles had come at different tournaments. He had won plenty of trophies, including Grand Slam and Masters 1000 titles, but had never returned to a tournament and won it in consecutive editions.
Basilashvili, who came through qualifying, made life difficult for the top seed in the opening set. He edged a tight tiebreak to take the lead, but Medvedev responded emphatically in the second set and carried that momentum into the third.
The final score was 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3, giving Medvedev his fourth title of the 2026 season after earlier wins in Brisbane, Dubai and Hangzhou.
Medvedev’s ability to absorb pressure and take control of longer rallies was once again important. After losing the opening set, he raised his level and gave Basilashvili far fewer opportunities to dictate play.
The victory also strengthens Medvedev’s position in the race to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin. With the season approaching its conclusion, every title and every point becomes increasingly important. More on Medvedev and his racquet.
What’s Next?
Both players head into the final stretch of the season with plenty to take from their latest victories.
For Musetti, the priority will be to build on this result and carry the confidence into the remaining tournaments. Ending a four-year title drought and finally winning another final could prove important as he looks to establish himself consistently among the top players.
Medvedev, meanwhile, has another trophy to add to an already impressive career. His first successful title defence might seem like a relatively minor milestone compared with his biggest achievements, but it is a curious statistic that he will be pleased to put behind him.
The indoor hard-court season continues in Vienna, where Medvedev will look to maintain his momentum as he pursues a place at the ATP Finals.
