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.
