Last Updated on January 3, 2022
Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev starts 2022 with a defeat at ATP CUP, surely enough of a surprise. The Russian number one and number two in the world falls in three sets against a good Ugo Humbert, winner in three sets and ahead taking advantage of cramps and some problems due to the torrid Australian climate.
Medvedev falls but Russia still manages to win thanks to an excellent Safiullin, ahead in the first match on Rinderknech. The match is decided by the doubles that also sees Daniil as a protagonist and brings Russia ahead in a very complicated round that will be fought until the end with Italy and Australia.
You go, UGO 💪 @HumbertUgo notches the biggest win of his career by ranking, stunning World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev 6-7 7-5 7-6 at #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/74jOexLRjW
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 2, 2022
At the end of the match, the Russian player spoke at the press conference and expressed his feelings: “I think I have experienced a lot of emotions in this debut. No doubt it is among my top 5 most exciting days ever, Roman played a great match, he lost the first one but managed to react and overturn the match with strength.
This is never easy. My match was unreal, it all depended on the fact that in the second set I had cramps but I managed to win with Russia despite the problems. None of us were doubles specialists but we did our best and won.
Victories like these are more exciting than easier victories.”
Daniil Medvedev’s Problems
Then the recent Us Open 2021 winner revealed, “When I heard that there were 25 minutes to play then doubles I was not very happy.
It’s not to my liking when you play an almost three-hour match with cramp and they tell you that you have to play doubles as well, I certainly didn’t like that but I do my best for my country. I’m willing to die on the court to win, I don’t know how I will wake up the day after the match but now I’m happy for the victory.
The physical problems in singles? This happens when you play the first match in a long time and it’s three very intense sets. Playing in these conditions is torture, there is a lot of heat and humidity, it’s incredible.
It’s a similar situation to Tokyo 2021, as far as the match is concerned I congratulate Humbert for his match, he was cooler and adapted more easily to the conditions of this court. Over the course of the match I changed my jersey four or five times and I have to say it was really tough.”
