Australian Open finalist Alexander Zverev wasted a big third-set lead as he suffered a second straight quarter-final defeat in South America, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Argentine Francisco Comesana in Rio de Janeiro.

Top seed Zverev led 4-1 in the final set but world number 86 Comesana fought back with five unanswered games to pull of a remarkable victory on Friday night.

Zverev had also gone out against an Argentine opponent, Francisco Cerundolo in the quarter-finals in Buenos Aires last week.

“Better level than in Buenos Aires but a shame the tournament ends this way. I still enjoyed my time in Rio and hope that I can return,” Zverev said.

Comesana was delighted with his biggest career win and first tour level semi-final berth.

“I was repeating to myself throughout the match, ‘How good it is to be alive.’ So, I was enjoying the entire match,” he said.

The match was briefly interrupted in the first set when a drone appeared over the court. It disappeared when Zverev hit a ball in its direction with permission of the chair umpire.

Zverev now moves to Mexico where he is also the top seed at next week’s Acapulco tournament.