Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev is still looking for his form after months of injury. The 25-year-old from Hamburg also lost his second singles game at the United Cup in Australia. Zverev had no chance in the 1: 6, 4: 6 against the American Taylor Fritz.
Fritz (25) only needed 64 minutes for his success, the first set even lasted only 21 minutes. Zverev didn’t win a point on his opponent’s first serve, only two in the first round with Fritz’s second service. “He gave me a lot of chances,” said the American.
Zverev lost the first game against Czech outsider Jiri Lehecka 4: 6, 2: 6. A few things were “a little different”, he had tired more quickly, he said afterwards. “But that’s what happens when you haven’t played for a long time.”
The United Cup, in which men and women compete together for the first time, serves as preparation for the Australian Open (January 16-29).
For Zverev, the duel against Fritz was the second “compulsory game” after tearing a triple outer ligament at the French Open in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal last summer. The return to the Davis Cup, originally planned for September, came too early.
Jule Niemeier (23) also suffered her second defeat at the United Cup. The Wimbledon quarterfinalist from Dortmund lost to the American Madison Keys 2: 6, 3: 6.