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Painful return to competition for Alexander Zverev. In defeat, even. On Saturday in Sydney, the Olympic champion got off to a bad start for Germany against the Czech Republic, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Jiri Lehecka, ranked 81st in the world. Not very comfortable, he also missed a few opportunities on break points.
Former world number two Alexander Zverev lost heavily on Saturday in his first ATP match since tearing ankle ligaments at the French Open in June. The two-time ATP champion committed eight double faults and lost 6-4, 6-2 to world No. 81 Jiri Lehecka in Sydney, giving the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead over Germany in the United Cup, a new mixed-team event and the first competition of the 2023 tennis season.
It was Zverev’s first official match since tearing three ligaments in his right ankle in the French Open semifinals against Rafael Nadal and leaving the court in a wheelchair. A planned return to the Davis Cup in September fell through when Zverev withdrew after experiencing “extreme pain.”
