Nigerian-born Tennis player, Michael Mmoh has entered the third round of the 2023 Australian Open, after beating former world number two Alexander Zverev 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena.
In reaction to the loss, German 12th seed, who was a semi-finalist in Melbourne in 2020, said the 107th-ranked American still had a long road to travel on his injury recovery.
Since tearing ankle ligaments at the French Open in June, Thursday’s defeat followed two defeats at the recent United Cup, Zverev’s first ATP matches.
Michael, 25, is the son of a former Nigerian tennis player Tony Mmoh.
Although, due to an “extreme pain”, a planned return at the Davis Cup in September failed to materialise when the 25-year-old pulled out.
It was an interesting match in which the two-time ATP Finals champion, who has dropped to 13 in the world, was clearly still struggling against the American Mmoh, hitting 58 unforced errors and having his serve broken eight times.
“I didn’t have any expectations. I didn’t have any goals, and it was a good test for me,” he said of being at the opening Grand Slam of the year.
“I played a five-setter (in the first round), and I know where I am physically. That’s about it. I guess I still have a long way back to where I was.”
Asked if his ankle was still troubling him, he replied that it was not.
“My foot is healthy, but I’m not at the physical level that I was. I’m not as fast,” he said.
