It’s supposed to bring good luck, but there was none forthcoming for struggling former world number two Alexander Zverev when he stopped his Australian Open match after a bird pooed on his head.
The German star, who is only weeks back from a horror injury lay-off, was leading American qualifier Michael Mmoh on Thursday after taking the first set tie-break when he reached for his hair.
After initial disgust as he realised what he’d run his fingers through, the 2020 US Open finalist could only laugh as he made his way to the bench.
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“What’s going on here?” commentators were heard asking.
“A bird has … well it’s good luck isn’t it?”
Unfortunately for Zverev, the poo splatter did not provide any luck as he was bundled out in his worst Australian Open result since 2016.
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And he was in no laughing mood when fronting media after his shock second round loss.
In the press conference, Zverev was asked first-up: “How is it going?”
His reply was scathing.
“How is it going? I think you can answer that,” to which the reporter could only reply: “Yeah.”
Zverev, who didn’t feature at Wimbledon or the US Open due to the horror ankle injury he suffered at Roland Garros in June, admitted he still had a long road to travel on his recovery.
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The German 12th seed, a semi-finalist in Melbourne in 2020, lost to 107th-ranked Michael Mmoh 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena.
It followed two defeats at the recent United Cup – Zverev’s first ATP matches since tearing ankle ligaments at the French Open in June.
A planned return at the Davis Cup in September failed to materialise when the 25-year-old pulled out after experiencing “extreme pain”.
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.
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“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.
“Definitely my conditioning is not as good as it was. So I think I still have a long way to go to there … I think the last weeks I was getting better and better, and that is something very positive for me.”
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Mmoh will play countryman J.J Wolf next, after he beat Argentina’s 23rd-seeded Diego Schwartzman in three sets.
“Wow, this is the biggest win of my career without a doubt,” said Mmoh. “Life is crazy, this is insane.”
With AFP
