Frenchman Humbert stuns Medvedev at ATP Cup
Russian Daniil Medvedev's 2022 season
opened with a stunning defeat at the hands of Frenchman Ugo Humbert after a
three-hour dogfight in a steamy Ken Rosewall Arena at the ATP Cup on Sunday.
The world number two had been
expected to seal the Group B tie for Russiaafter Roman Safiullin beat Arthur
Rinderknech in the opening singles match, but Humbert's 6-7(5) 7-5 7-6(2)
victory kept France alive at 1-1 going into the doubles.
Medvedev, however, changed his shirt
and returned to the court alongside Safiullin to clinch the tie for the
defending champions with a 6-4 6-4 win over Fabrice Martin and Edouard
Roger-Vasselin.
"I'm feeling very bad
physically, that's all I can say," Medvedev laughed.
That was little surprise after his
titanic contest with Humbert, who was in inspired form and clung on tenaciously
whenever it looked like Medvedev might get away from him.
Medvedev squeezed through the first
set in a tiebreak but had to go the distance after giving up a 3-0 lead to cede
the second set to the 35th ranked Frenchman.
The tiring Russian looked to have run
out of patience in the final tiebreaker and Humbert secured the biggest win of
his career on his second match point with a rasping backhand return.
"I'm not feeling very good now
but I'm very happy," Humbert laughed. "It was a great match."
Earlier, Canadian Denis Shapovalov
was a late withdrawal from his singles match against American John Isner in
Sunday's other early tie at the $10 million men's team tournament.
The world number 14 had been forced
to isolate in his hotel room after a positive COVID-19 test upon arrival in
Sydney.
"I just didn't feel ready
physically yet, so we did what is best for the team," said Shapovalov, who
later took to the court to play doubles with Felix Auger-Aliassime.
That was a dead rubber, however, as Isner had beaten Shapovalov's singles replacement Brayden Schnur before Taylor Fritz downed Auger-Aliassime to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the Group C clash.
Isner and Fritz also won the doubles rubber to put a 3-0 gloss on their nation's first ATP Cup tie victory.
Hosts Australia suffered a blow ahead of their opening Group B tie against Italy later on Sunday when James Duckworth was forced to withdraw with a hip problem. Germany face Britain in Group C in the other evening tie.
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