Match Highlights
Medvedev Seizes Victory in Almaty, Keeps Turin Aspirations Alive
Michelsen and Mochizuki Battle Through to Quarter-Finals
October 16, 2025
Photo Credit: ANDREY UDARTSEV/Almaty Open
Daniil Medvedev now boasts a 35-21 record this season, as per the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Written by Sam Jacot
Daniil Medvedev avenged his earlier defeat to Adam Walton at the Almaty Open, securing a spot in the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 7-6(0) victory at this ATP 250 event.
Having faced a setback against Walton in Cincinnati back in August, Medvedev made sure history wouldn’t repeat itself in Kazakhstan. The second seed rallied from a 1-4 deficit in the second set, saving four break points in the crucial sixth game to stave off a potential 1-5 scoreline.
Once he regained his composure, Medvedev intensified his game, firing off 12 winners in the second set to seal the match in one hour and 45 minutes. After impressive runs in Shanghai and Beijing, he has now won eight out of his last ten matches and will next face Fabian Marozsan.
“That was a really challenging match. The game at 1-4 was key; saving those break points allowed me to break back and regain my momentum. I’m grateful to have triumphed over such a strong opponent,” Medvedev remarked, leveling his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Walton at 1-1.
The 29-year-old, aiming for his first title since 2023, has risen one spot to 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin and remains in contention for a seventh consecutive appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. However, he trails eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti by 1025 points, with Musetti holding the final qualifying position.
In earlier matches, Shintaro Mochizuki and Alex Michelsen set the stage for an exciting quarter-final clash in Almaty. The Japanese dynamo Mochizuki dispatched fourth seed Luciano Darderi of Italy 6-3, 6-3, marking his first entry into the last eight at a tour-level event this season.
The 22-year-old, who shone in the Tokyo semis last year, jumped 10 spots to No. 92 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is on track to break into the Top 100 on Monday. Mochizuki dominated Darderi during their indoor hard-court encounter, finishing the match in just 65 minutes.
Michelsen, who arrived in Almaty on a five-match losing streak, has turned his fortune around. The American triumphed over Beibit Zhukayev in the first round and continued his winning ways with a solid 6-3, 6-2 victory against Aleksandar Vukic.
