ATP Cup: Day 2 of the ATP Cup promises to be a humdinger with defending champions Russia, finalists from last year Italy and host nation Australia all in action. If that was not enough of an attraction, Sunday’s matches will also see four top-10 players take to the court — Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner. Follow ATP Cup live updates on InsideSport.IN
Group B – Russia v France, Day Session
R. Safiullin (RUS) bt A. Rinderknech (FRA) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
D. Medvedev (RUS) lost to U. Humbert (FRA) 7-6, 5-7, 6-7
Subject to change – D. Medvedev (RUS) / R. Safiullin (RUS) bt F. Martin (FRA) / E. Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 6-4, 6-4
ATP Cup: Australia shock Italy, Great Britain beat Germany, Daniil Medvedev stunned but Russia beat France 2-1, US beats Canada
Medvedev Stunned but Russia win
Russian Daniil Medvedev did not have the best of his beginnings to his 2022 season as he was beaten by Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-7(5) 7-5 7-6(2) after a three-hour dogfight on a steamy Ken Rosewall Arena at the ATP Cup on Sunday.
Go, go Ugo 🙌@HumbertUgo masters the Medvedev challenge 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(2) for the biggest win of his career, leveling the tie at 1-1 for #TeamFrance#ATPCup pic.twitter.com/y6bEAZcGZU
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 2, 2022
The World No 2 was expected to secure victory in Group B for the defending champions after Roman Safiullin’s 2-6 7-5 6-3 victory over Arthur Rinderknech, but Humbert’s inspired display kept France alive at 1-1 going into the doubles.
Roman Safiullin then stepped up and combined with World No 2 Daniil Medvedev to overcome Fabrice Martin and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4, 6-4 in 76 minutes in the deciding doubles match to give Russia a winning start at the 16-team event.
In the absence of Serbian Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev will be the biggest attraction. In the last edition, the Russian was on fire as he beat the likes of Diego Schwartzman, Kei Nishikori, Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini to help Team Russia capture the ATP Cup crown.
Your winners from Day 1 at the 2022 #ATPCup are:
Group A
🇪🇸 #TeamSpain 3-0 🇨🇱 #TeamChile
🇷🇸 #TeamSerbia 2-1 🇳🇴 #TeamNorwayGroup D
🇦🇷 #TeamArgentina 3-0 🇬🇪 #TeamGeorgia
🇵🇱 #TeamPoland 2-1 🇬🇷 #TeamGreece— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 1, 2022
Russia will have been weakened with the late withdrawals of Andrey Rublev and Aslan Karatsev, Daniil Medvedev is confident of success ahead of the team’s first Group B tie against France.
The World No 2 will be looking to avenge his 6-4, 6-3 loss to France’s Ugo Humbert at Hamburg in July 2020. Humbert will be making his ATP Cup debut for France, which boasts Arthur Rinderknech, Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Fabrice Martin.
ATP Cup: Australia shock Italy, Great Britain beat Germany, Daniil Medvedev stunned but Russia beat France 2-1, US beats Canada
“Last year was amazing for Russian tennis in general…and I think that’s what can, again, help us a lot this week because everybody is expecting us to do well,” said Medvedev.
Group B – Italy v Australia, Night Session
J. Sinner (ITA) bt [WC] Max Purcell (AUS) 6-1, 6-3
M. Berrettini (ITA) lost to [WC] A. de Minaur (AUS) 3-6, 6-7
Subject to change – S. Bolelli (ITA) / F. Fognini (ITA) vs [WC] J. Peers (AUS) / L. Saville (AUS)
Australia claim upset win over Italy
Home favourite Alex de Minaur lifted the roof off Ken Rosewall Arena Sunday as he kept alive Australia’s opening tie hopes against Italy at ATP Cup. The 22-year-old earned his fifth Top 10 win of his career as he upset World No. 7 Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 7-6(4) in Group B in Sydney to force a deciding doubles rubber.
Earlier, Jannik Sinner had produced a comprehensive performance on his ATP Cup debut to give Italy a 1-0 lead.
John Peers and Luke Saville completed the Australian turnaround to give the home nation lift-off in Group B in Sydney. The pair downed Matteo Berrettini and Simone Bolelli 6-3, 7-5 to secure a 2-1 victory for Australia.
Italy have some serious firepower this year with two players in the Top 10 – Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner. That is not all as their doubles team of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini is famous for winning the 2015 Australian Open.
But they will be aware of the home crowd and their support for their local players — Alex de Minaur and James Duckworth.
ATP Cup: Australia shock Italy, Great Britain beat Germany, Daniil Medvedev stunned but Russia beat France 2-1, US beats Canada
“Our aim is to win the title,” said Berrettini, who won three of his four singles matches to help Italy advance to the 2021 ATP Cup final. “Alex is a really tricky player, especially here in Sydney, in his home country.”
“It’s going to be very tough match. But I like it when the atmosphere is like that. I like [when] stadiums are packed, and people are cheering for you or against you. I’m really looking forward to that match.”
Group C – Canada v United States, Day Session
Brayden Schnur (CAN) lost to J. Isner (USA) 1-6, 1-4
F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) lost to T. Fritz (USA) 7-6, 4-6, 4-6
Subject to change – F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) / D. Shapovalov (CAN) vs T. Fritz (USA) / J. Isner (USA)
America takes the contest
Canada’s Denis Shapovalov withdrew from his opening singles match at the ATP Cup due to fatigue. Brayden Schnur stepped in to face John Isner of the United States. John Isner got the better of the Canadian 6-1, 6-4 in 66 minutes to give the United States an early 1-0 lead.
T Fritz let slip four set points in the opening-set tie-break, but recovered to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4 and clinch the United States’ victory against Canada.
Neighbours USA and Canada will also be seen in action. Canada’s skipper and World No 11 Felix Auger-Aliassime will face USA’s highest ranked Taylor Fritz in the No. 1 singles match. Denis Shapovalov, currently No. 14 in the ATP Rankings, will also have a first-time meeting against American John Isner.
ATP Cup: Australia shock Italy, Great Britain beat Germany, Daniil Medvedev stunned but Russia beat France 2-1, US beats Canada
Isner believes the United States has several partnership options at its disposal including Rajeev Ram — for the doubles match which might be a major factor.
Group C – Germany v Great Britain
J. Struff (GER) lost to D. Evans (GBR) 1-6, 2-6
A. Zverev (GER) bt C. Norrie (GBR) 7-6, 6-1
Subject to change – K. Krawietz (GER) / T. Puetz (GER) vs J. Murray (GBR) / J. Salisbury (GBR)
Zverev wins but Germany suffer loss
Dan Evans and Jamie Murray won their deciding doubles tie to seal a 2-1 win for Great Britain in their ATP Cup opener against Germany. Evans and Murray beat Alexander Zverev and Kevin Krawietz 6-3 6-4.
Alexander Zverev gave Germany the lead, with a 7-6(2), 6-1 win over Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Dan Evans then beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles match to level proceedings.
Germany will be banking on Alexander Zverev when they take on Great Britain in their Group C encounter. Alexander Zverev has a 4-2 record at the ATP Cup and had helped Germany to the 2021 semifinals.
ATP Cup: Australia shock Italy, Great Britain beat Germany, Daniil Medvedev stunned but Russia beat France 2-1, US beats Canada
It will be far from a foregone conclusion however, as the World No 3 will come up against another player who enjoyed a stellar year in Cameron Norrie. Norrie rose to a career-high No 12 in the ATP Rankings and will be hoping to avenge his two losses to Zverev at Acapulco and Montreal in 2019.
“The matches are difficult. I’m playing Cameron Norrie… to start the year off against the World No. 12, it can only be in this event for me. It is a great challenge. I will know exactly where I am at after the first few matches,” Zverev commented.
ATP Cup: Australia shock Italy, Great Britain beat Germany, Daniil Medvedev stunned but Russia beat France 2-1, US beats Canada
Editors pick
