By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 1, 2021
Ugo Humbert rallied past Daniil Medvedev for his biggest career victory on Sunday at ATP Cup in Sydney.
Photo Source: Getty
Ugo Humbert has started his 2022 campaign with a monumental upset.
The talented Frenchman rallied from a set down to defeat World No.2 Daniil Medvedev, 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(2) in two hours and 55 minutes to force a deciding doubles rubber between France and Russia at the ATP Cup in Sydney.
But it was Medvedev who had the last laugh as he paired with Roman Safiullin moments later to lock up the victory for Russia with a triumph over Fabrice Martin and Edouard Roger-Vaseelin on the doubles court.
“I had some opportunities in the first set,” said 23-year-old Humbert after the match. “I tried to stay relaxed, to stay focused on what I have to do – it was a great match.”
Humbert improves to 2-0 against Medvedev – he also defeated the Russian on clay Hamburg in 2020.
Medvedev seemed to have the contest under complete control as he won the first set tiebreak and led 3-0 in the second set, but the indefatigable Humbert battled back, winning seven of nine games in the second set as he levelled up at a set apiece.
Medvedev was up early, leading 3-1 in the third set, but Humbert again was persistent. He was also opportunistic. The Metz, France native broke back immediately for 2-3, thanks to a Medvedev double-fault on break point, and he looked like the fresher player down the stretch as Medvedev sought a rubdown from the physio at a changeover after holding for 4-3, and again after holding for 6-5.
Neither player wavered on serve down the stretch no matter their fatigue level, and a second tiebreak ensued.
This one was all Humbert. He raced out to a 4-0 lead, then soon led 6-1 before converting his second match point two points later to lock up his biggest career victory.
The World No. 35 has now won six of his last eight matches against Top-10 opposition.
Safiullin, who defeated Arthur Rinderknech in the first match of the tie to claim his best career win by ranking, played spectacularly alongside Medvedev as the pair took down Martin and Roger-Vasselin, 6-4, 6-4.
After the contest Medvedev said that his compatriot was "unbelievable."
"I think today the emotions I experienced throughout all the day I don't think - I mean, yeah, I definitely had some emotional moments in my career, but this one would be in the top three, top five, because, I mean, just look at Roman's match already, the way he fought back after tough first set where we can say he lost it quite easy, and then the way he fought back, the way he played was unreal."