Germany's Steffi Graf was beaten twice in her one-off return to competitive tennis on Tuesday before salvaging some pride by ending the night on a winning note in a World Team Tennis (WTT) event in Houston.

Representing the Houston Wranglers, the 36-year-old Graf was unable to shake off the rust of a six-year absence, losing her singles match to Russia's Elena Likhovtseva of the Sacramento Capitals 5-4.

In the tournament, the teams play best-of-nine game single-set matches in five disciplines, two singles and three doubles.

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Graf, who retired in 1999 after winning 22 grand slam titles, then teamed up with Ansley Cargill in women's doubles but lost 5-2 to Likhovtseva and Anna Kournikova.

However, the German was successful in the mixed doubles after she and Mardy Fish overcame Mark Knowles and Kournikova 5-3.

Married to Andre Agassi and the mother of two children, Graf said Tuesday's match would be her only WTT appearance of the season.