Alexander Zverev was only able to avert another setback on his way to old strength with a lot of effort. At the ATP tournament in Dubai on Monday (February 27th, 2023), the Olympic tennis champion defeated the Czech Jiri Lehecka 4: 6, 6: 3, 6: 4 and thus made it into the round of 16.
Most recently, Zverev (25) lost to British Andy Murray right at the start in Doha. It was only Zverev’s third win on the ATP tour this year.
Zverev: “The kind of matches I need now”
“I didn’t always feel good and started badly. But these kinds of matches are what I need now to come back,” Zverev commented after the game. “I lost to him in the first game after my comeback and didn’t have a chance back then. So I’m satisfied with how much I’ve improved since then,” said Zverev, who was now looking forward to a day off: “That will do me good to recover.”
Starting difficulties against Lehecka in Dubai
At the event, which was worth around three million dollars, Zverev got off to a weak start and immediately gave up his first service game. After just 33 minutes, Lehecka won the first set. After that, Zverev increased and managed to equalize the set after 75 minutes.
In the third round, the native of Hamburg, who is still looking for his old form after a serious foot injury and a break of almost seven months, managed a quick break. Although he had to give up his service again to make it 4: 4 after two double errors, he then managed another break and a little later the win.