Alexander Zverev’s return to the game after ankle surgery didn’t last long on Saturday after he was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Czech Jiri Lehecka in the United Cup in Sydney.
Lehecka, the world No.81, broke Zverev to take the first set and kept the pressure up in the second to take the tie.
“I knew before the match that he hadn’t played in a while but with a player like Zverev that can mean nothing,” Lehecka said.
“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.”
Zverev rolled his right ankle against Rafael Nadal in a French Open semi-final in June.
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