Defending champions Russia beat France 2-1 on Matchday 2 of the ATP Cup in Sydney on Sunday.
France had yet taken the first point after the surprise victory of Ugo Humbert (ATP 35), who beat world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in three sets 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) and 2h55 of play.
In the second singles match of this France-Russia, the Russian Roman Safiullin (167th) beat Arthur Rinderknech (58th) in three sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, after saving 15 break points on the 19 obtained by the French.
Medvedev and Safiullin then offered victory to Russia by winning a 6-4 double against Fabrice Martin and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
The United States, in Group C, won against Canada, thanks in particular to the victory of the great server John Isner against Brayden Schnur (6-1, 6-3) who had replaced at the last minute Denis Shapovalov, tired after isolation following a positive Covid-19 test, upon his arrival in Sydney.
Taylor Fritz then beat the other Canadian, Félix Auger-Aliassime (11th) in three sets 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4, while Shapovalov still took part in the doubles, without a stake for the outcome of the meeting. Fritz and Isner won 6-4, 6-4 against Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov.
The ATP Cup, a competition between sixteen national teams, opens the 2022 tennis season. The formula of this mini-Davis Cup, scheduled until January 9, provides that only the winner of each of the four groups advances to the semi-finals.
Two venues in Sydney have been selected for this edition of the ATP Cup, the Ken Rosewall Arena and the Qudos Bank Arena.
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