World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev fell to a 6-2, 7-6(5) defeat by French veteran Richard Gasquet at the Geneva Open on Tuesday on his return to the ATP tour, having spent six weeks recovering from a hernia operation. 

The loss in the round of 16 means the U.S. Open champion is left short of practice ahead of next week's French Open. 

The 26-year-old Russian underwent surgery last month after losing in the quarterfinals in Miami, missing the early clay-court season.

"Clay for my body is the most dangerous surface. For me it's clay courts – every time, every year I have some problems where I cannot be 100 percent," he said.

"I'm not a favorite for Roland-Garros but I do want to play well. If I can find my level again, I can be dangerous," Medvedev added.

It was the first time 35-year-old Gasquet had defeated a top two player since beating Roger Federer in 2005 – his only other victory over a top-two opponent in 38 attempts.

World No. 75 Gasquet faces Poland's Kamil Majchrzak in the quarterfinals after the latter beat Italian qualifier Marco Cecchinato 6-2, 6-3.

Last year's Geneva winner Casper Ruud, runner-up Denis Shapovalov and Reilly Opelka are the other top 20 players still in the Geneva draw. 

The 2020 U.S. Open winner Dominic Thiem lost to Cecchinato in the first round.

(With input from agencies)