Zverev’s Germany and Nadal’s Spain were beaten 2-0 by the Czech Republic and Great Britain respectively on Saturday, and are in bad shape for their debuts in the United Cup, a new event between mixed teams and first competition of the 2023 tennis season. For his first match in the ATP tournament for six months and his serious ankle injury in the semi-finals of Roland-Garros, the former German world No.2, currently No.12, appeared physically impaired against the Czech Jiri Lehecka ( N.81), which dominated 6-4, 6-2.
The Czech Republic then increased their advantage with the victory of Marie Bouzkova (N.24) against Jule Niemeier (N.65) 6-2, 7-5, taking an option to win the meeting against Germany in the next match between Laura Siegemund (N.27) and Petra Kvitova (N.16) on Sunday. Another headliner of the tournament, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal (N.2) lost for the first time in his career against the Briton Cameron Norrie (N.14) in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. “It’s not disastrous at all“, However, played down “Rafa”, already hampered by physical glitches during the second half of 2022.
«I can and I have to do better but, as I said, I haven’t played much so far. Australian Open doesn’t start for two weeks“, Continued the 36-year-old player, listing his areas of progress by then. With the victory of Katie Swan (N.145) against Nuria Parrizas Diaz (N.70), Great Britain, which beat Australia 3-2 at the start of the tournament, leads 2-0 against Spain in the group D.
In Group B, the world No.1 Iga Swiatek allowed Poland to equalize at 1 everywhere by largely dominating the Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-1, 6-3.