TENNIS: Federer loses to teenager Zverev

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 06: Roger Federer of Switzerland looks on against Marin Cilic of Croatia during their men's singles semifinal match on Day Thirteen of the 2014 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, 2014 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Roger Federer’s comeback from injury struck its first hurdle on yesterday when he was beaten by teenager Alexander Zverev at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth, but the Swiss champion remained upbeat.

In one of the highest quality singles matches ever seen in the 29-year history of the event, Federer showed plenty of the class which has won him a record 17 Grand Slams, but couldn’t quite hold off the bold 19-year-old German. Despite the result, Switzerland kept their hopes of reaching Saturday’s final alive with a 2-1 win over Germany -Belinda Bencic beating Andrea Petkovic in the women’s singles and then teaming with Federer to win the deciding mixed doubles.