COLOGNE, Oct 16 — Alexander Zverev defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-1 yesterday in his first match since his Roland Garros exit that was overshadowed by an admission he was suffering from fever-like symptoms.

US Open runner-up Zverev had raised doubts as to whether he should have played his last-16 match at a coronavirus-affected tournament when he complained of feeling "completely sick”.

Zverev later returned a negative test for Covid-19. He said he had been suffering from a cold after telling reporters he had a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.

The German top seed needed just over an hour in Cologne to see off Verdasco, who was disqualified from the French Open after failing a coronavirus test.

Zverev, 23, will meet South Africa’s Lloyd Harris for a semi-final spot as he attempts to win a first tour title since last year’s Geneva Open. — AFP