Third seed Alexander Zverev has crashed out of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, falling to Alexander Bublik 7-5, 6-3 in their first-round match in 77 minutes.

Bublik rallied from early deficits in both sets as he recorder his fifth win in his last six matches after reaching the final in Singapore last week. The 43rd-ranked Kazakh hit 21 winners and won nine of 11 points at the net.

Bublik fights back from deficits in both sets to upset Zverev

Zverev got off to the best possible start, breaking in the opening game of the match after Bublik sent a forehand over the baseline. The German was serving well and held a 4-2 advantage until the Kazakh struck back.

Zverev reacts during his first-round loss/Photo: Henk Sepper/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Zverev reacts during his first-round loss/Photo: Henk Sepper/BSR Agency/Getty Images

After coming through a service game in which he was pushed to deuce, Bublik broke after Zverev missed a forehand volley, coming in off of a second serve as the set was now level at 4-4. The world number 43 won three of the final four games to take a one-set lead.

Again, Zverev raced out to a an early break lead as Bublik missed on a drop shot and the German ripped a crosscourt backhand that the Kazakh had no reply to for a 2-1 lead.

The world number 43 fought back and broke to level the set at 3-3 and in the German's next service game, he converted on his fifth break point opportunity, a backhand that clipped the net to go in front 5-3 and a game later, he closed out the victory after Zverev netted a backhand.

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