ATP Cup 2022: Daniil Medvedev vs Ugo Humbert preview, head-to-head & prediction
Match details
Fixture: (RUS) Daniil Medvedev vs (FRA) Ugo Humbert
Date: 2 January, 2022
Tournament: ATP Cup 2022
Round: Group stage
Venue: Sydney, Australia
Category: ATP Cup
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize money: $10,00,000
Match timing: Approx. 11.30 am local time, 12:30 am GMT, 6 am IST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Daniil Medvedev vs Ugo Humbert preview
Russia's Daniil Medvedev and France's Ugo Humbert will face off in the group stage of the 2022 ATP Cup on Sunday.
Defending champions Russia have suffered a few setbacks in the lead-up to the tournament, with Andrey Rublev and Aslan Karatsev pulling out after testing positive for COVID-19.
This has raised the pressure on Medvedev, who will be expected to carry his team in the singles format. The Russian had a stellar 2021 season in which he won his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. He also reached the final of the Australian Open and the ATP Finals.
Most Hard-Court Wins since 2018
@DaniilMedwed 147
@DjokerNole 115
@AlexZverev 113
@StefTsitsipas 111
@AndreyRublev97 108
Most Hard-Court Titles since 2018
Daniil Medvedev 12
Novak Djokovic 10
Alexander Zverev 7
Andrey Rublev 6
@RogerFederer 6
France, meanwhile, weren't even on the entry list for the ATP Cup. However, they replaced Austria, who had to pull out following Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak's withdrawal.
Ugo Humbert will lead the French challenge in Sydney. He won the biggest title of his career in 2021 at the Halle Open by defeating Andrey Rublev in the final.
He also reached the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics and ascended to a career-high ranking of 25 in June. However, the Frenchman failed to kick on and concluded his season on a disappointing note following an injury.
Daniil Medvedev vs Ugo Humbert head-to-head
Daniil Medvedev and Ugo Humbert have played just once before, with the Frenchman winning 6-4, 6-3 at the 2020 Hamburg Open. As such, he leads 1-0 in the head-to-head.
Daniil Medvedev vs Ugo Humbert prediction
Daniil Medvedev will enter this contest as the overwhelming favorite. He's been in sensational form over the last few months, reaching the finals of the Paris Masters and ATP Finals before winning the Davis Cup.
Humbert, meanwhile, will be looking to brush off a disappointing finish to 2021 by starting off the new season on a positive note.
Armed with a big serve and an aggressive style of play, Humbert will look to take charge of the rallies and keep Medvedev pinned behind the baseline. The Frenchman is also a capable volleyer and will need to approach the net to finish points off quickly against the Russian.
Medvedev, on the other hand, will look to engage Humbert in long exchanges from the baseline and draw errors from the Frenchman's racket.
The Russian is by far the superior player and should be able to come away with the victory, thereby maintaining his winning streak at the ATP Cup.
Prediction: Daniil Medvedev to win in straight sets.