Andy Murray’s bid for a record-breaking fifth Aegon Championships title began with a straight sets win over Nicolas Mahut.
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However, in Tuesday’s limited action, 2012 champion Marin Cilic fought back after losing the first set to defeat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while No. 6 seed Roberto Bautista Agut saw off Sam Querrey in a marathon 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 7-6(1) encounter.
Murray saved one set-point in the tie-break, which he won 10-8 after the Frenchman put a loose forehand in the net.
Like Lendl, Mahut had also arrived late on Monday after winning a fourth career grass-court title in a rain-delayed s-Hertogenbosch final in the Netherlands in the morning.
Murray, who has reunited with former coach Ivan Lendl, looked dressed to impress as he rocked his Wimbledon whites and delivered fast-paced serving and instinctive winners to come from a break down in the first set and squeak through the opening set.
Scoreboard aficionados may recall though that the last time Murray lost to Mahut at Queen’s, he went on to win at The Big W. Then again he only has won in Queen’s in odd-numbered years. “I’m glad to get through”. On a slippery court, on which Mahut suffered two heavy falls, Murray displayed the assurance of a man who knows as well as anyone how to handle the challenges that grass can provide.
Defending champion Andy Murray needed two tie-breaks to beat Nicolas Mahut at Queen’s, while Stan Wawrinka made a shock exit. It is the third time we have played in this event and it was 1-1 before this one. “Because of the weather the last few days, we haven’t been able to get on grass too much to hit”.
The world number five, who has employed Richard Krajicek for the grass-court swing, had a first-serve percentage of only 53 and crashed out after failing to convert any of his eight break-point opportunities. “It is frustrating. You want to play your best tennis but it is hard to get in the right positions and play your best”.
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Tomic defeated Kevin Anderson on Tuesday, 6-3, 6-4.
