Hopman Cup: Roger Federer suffers setback after returning from six-month injury absence
ROGER FEDERER lost an gruelling three-set clash with German teenager Alexander Zverev as he struggled to find his best form in only his third match since returning to action.
Roger Federer lost in three sets to Alexander Zverev
Roger Federer last featured in 2016 when he lost in five sets to Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon semi-final.
He had already undergone knee surgery earlier in the year and despite having recovered fully, a back injury then ruled him out for the rest of the season in July.
But the legendary 35-year-old is now back in action representing Switzerland in the Hopman Cup, a team competition in the run-up to the Australian Open.
Roger Federer missed the second half of 2016 with a back injury
Alexander Zverev has previously beaten Roger Federer - at the Halle Open
Having come through his first match against Britain’s Daniel Evans, he then triumphed in the mixed doubles against Evans and Heather Watson.
However, he was unable to record a third victory against Zverev in an entertaining match that went to three consecutive tie-breaks only for the 19-year-old to end up winning 7-6, 6-7, 7-6.
Federer served for the first set at 5-3 but the 19-year-old Zverev fought back and eventually rolled through the tie-breaker to claim the first set.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner took the second set in similar manner to force the decider but Zverev had the last laugh in the pulsating contest.
"To beat Roger, you really have to play an unbelievable match, from the first point to the last. I thought we both played really well," said Zverev, who also beat Federer in the Halle Open semi-finals last June.
"I always play unbelievably against him.
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“It's always nerve-racking to play against him.
“I always play in front of a big crowd which helps me a lot as well.”
Federer will face France's Richard Gasquet in his next singles match.