Tennis Frenchman Humbert stunned Russian Medvedev in ATP Cup | Mighty 790 KFGO

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Russia’s Daniil Medvedev’s 2022 season opened with a spectacular loss of 6-7 (5) 7-5 7-6 (2) to Frenchman Ugo Humbert after a three-hour battle at the steamy Ken Rosewall Arena at. ATP Cup on Sunday.

The second on the world rankings was expected to seal the Group B draw to the reigning champions after Roman Safiullin’s 2-6 7-5 6-3 victory over Arthur Rinderknech, but the Humbert-inspired display kept France alive 1-1 as it started the doubles.

“Today was very difficult, I’m not doing very well now, but I’m very happy,” Humbert, 35th on the world list, laughed.

“I tried to stay relaxed and focus on what I had to do. It was a great match. “

Humbert shot the winners and mistakes equally and held on firmly whenever it looked like Medvedev would get away from him.

Medvedev squeezed through the first set in a tiebreak, but had to go the distance after handing over the 3-0 lead to hand over the second set to the Frenchman.

The US Open champion resigned 3-1 in the decision, but Humbert struck back to put the set back into the pitch and has rarely been threatened ever since.

The Russian seemed to run out of both Puffa and patience in the final semifinals, and Humbert secured the biggest win of his career with his second match ball with a furious backlash.

Earlier, Canadian Denis Shapovalov withdrew late in his singles against American John Isner in Sunday’s second early draw in the $ 10 million men’s team tournament.

World list 14 was forced to isolate her hotel room after a positive COVID-19 test when she arrived in Sydney.

“I just didn’t feel physically ready yet, so we did what’s best for the team,” said Shapovalov, who later went on the field to play a doubles match with Felix Auger-Alias.

However, that match was dead rubber, as Isner had defeated Shapovalov’s doubles substitute Brayden Schnur 6-1 6-3 before Taylor Fritz crashed Auger-Alias ​​6-7 (6) 6-4 6-4 and gave the United States 2. -0 lead in a C-block match.

Host Australia suffered a blow before their opening match against Italy later on Sunday when James Duckworth had to withdraw due to a hip problem. Germany will face Britain in Group C in the second evening game.

(Report by Nick Mulvenney: Surgery by Neil Fullick)