Russian Daniil Medvedev’s 2022 season opened with a stunning defeat at the hands of Frenchman Ugo Humbert after a three-hour dogfight in a steamy Ken Rosewall Arena at the ATP Cup on Sunday.

The world No.2 had been expected to seal the Group B tie for Russia after Roman Safiullin beat Arthur Rinderknech in the opening singles match. But Humbert’s 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) victory kept France alive at 1-1 going into the doubles.

Medvedev, however, changed his shirt and returned to the court alongside Safiullin for the doubles match to clinch the tie for the defending champions with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Fabrice Martin and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

“I’m feeling very bad physically, that’s all I can say,” Medvedev laughed. That was little surprise after his titanic contest with Humbert, who was in inspired form and clung on tenaciously whenever it looked like Medvedev might get away from him.

Medvedev squeezed through the first set in a tie-break but had to go the distance after giving up a 3-0 lead to cede the second set to the 35th ranked Frenchman.

In Group B, world No.7 Berrettini was beaten on his return from injury as Italy slumped to a 1-2 loss to Australia, who were without James Duckworth after he was forced to pull out with a hip problem.

Berrettini, who withdrew from the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup due to an abdominal injury, struggled for rhythm as De Minaur prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Jannik Sinner had earlier put the Italians 1-0 up with a routine 6-1, 6-3 win over Max Purcell. Berrettini returned for the doubles decider alongside Simone Bolelli but the duo were no match for John Peers and Luke Saville, who clinched the tie with a 6-3, 7-5 win.

Dan Evans proved to be the unlikely hero for Britain in Group C when he won two matches, including the crucial doubles rubber with Jamie Murray, to guide them to a 2-1 victory over Germany.

Evans powered past Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 6-2 to give Britain the lead before world No.3 Alexander Zverev restored parity with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 win over the up-and-coming Cameron Norrie.

But Evans played a spoiler as he and Murray swept to a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zverev and Kevin Krawietz to take the tie at Sydney's Olympic Park.

Earlier, Canadian Denis Shapovalov was a late withdrawal from his singles match against American John Isner.

That was a dead rubber, however, as Isner had beaten Shapovalov’s singles replacement Brayden Schnur before Taylor Fritz downed Auger-Aliassime to give the US a 2-0 lead in the Group C clash.