Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Sport
Joel Gould

German ace Zverev upset at United Cup

Former world No.2 Alexander Zverev struggled for sharpness in his United Cup loss to Jiri Lehecka. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

German tennis star Alexander Zverev's return to tournament play after ankle surgery has not gone to plan after he was upset by the Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka in the United Cup.

Lehecka, the world No.81, beat Zverev 6-4 6-2 in the opening match of the tie between the two nations in Sydney on Saturday.

Women's world No.24 Marie Bouzkova then gave the Czechs a 2-0 lead with a 6-2 7-5 win over Jule Niemeier.

The last time world No.12 Zverev played a tour-level match was against Rafael Nadal in a French Open semi-final back in June.

Zverev rolled his right ankle in that match, tearing all three lateral ligaments in the process, before leaving the court in a wheelchair.

The 25-year-old had surgery and tried to return on several occasions in recent months but was forced to abort his plans each time.

Zverev was ranked No.2 in the world in June but his lack of matches was evident as he struggled with serve and movement against a red-hot Lehecka.

The 21-year-old Czech broke Zverev to take the first set and kept the pressure up in the second.

"I knew before the match that he hadn't played in a while but with a player like (Zverev) that can mean nothing," Lehecka told the Nine Network after the match.

"Of course I was able to be a good opponent for him and in the crucial moments I showed all the experience from the last year playing against good players. That gave me the confidence to play against him."

Meanwhile Brazil took a 2-0 lead over Norway in their tie at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.

Beatriz Haddad Maia kept her unbeaten run at the United Cup intact with a 6-4 6-2 win over Malene Helgo.

Felipe Meligeni Alves backed that up with a 6-3 6-3 victory against Viktor Durasovic.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.