SYDNEY — Jiri Lehecka has scored a 6-4, 6-2 upset win over world No. 12 Alexander Zverev to provide the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead over Germany on the United Cup on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Lehecka, ranked No. 81, broke 4 instances within the Group C match at Ken Rosewall Enviornment in Sydney to bounce again from a gap singles loss to Taylor Fritz of the USA on Thursday.
Marie Bouzkova confronted Jule Niemeier within the second match attempting to provide the Czechs a 2-0 lead going into the ultimate three matches of the tie on Sunday.
Zverev was competing for the primary time since June when he tore three ligaments in his proper ankle throughout his Roland Garros semifinal match towards Rafael Nadal.
In different early matches Saturday, Brazil performed Norway in Brisbane and Belgium took on Bulgaria at Perth.
Nadal was set to steer Spain towards Britain in later Group D matches in Sydney.
Two singles matches – one males’s and one ladies’s – are performed over every of two days, with a combined doubles to conclude the five-match encounter on the second day.
The inaugural United Cup has groups from 18 nations competing in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney by way of to Jan. 4. The three metropolis champions and the next-best performing nation from the group stage will meet at Ken Rosewall Enviornment from Jan. 6 to eight to find out the general winner.
After matches accomplished Friday, top-ranked Greece leads Group A with a 4-1 report, Switzerland heads Group B (5-0), the U.S. is first in Group C (4-1), Britain (3-2) tops Group D, Italy is in first place in Group E with a 3-2 report and France (5-0) leads Group F.