Murray denied fun as he gives up title

Murray’s first week under new coach Amelie Mauresmo ended prematurely, the three-time Queen’s champion unable to make the quarter-finals.

The 27-year-old raced into a 6-2 tie-break lead in the first set, only for Stepanek to claw back each of those four set points.

The Czech saved four more before clinically claiming the set at his first opportunity then took the second set and victory comprehensively.

Murray was preparing for a new dawn under former Wimbledon and French Open champion Mauresmo, seeking more fun on court. Instead the reigning Wimbledon champion relinquished his Queen’s crown in lacklustre fashion.

Murray’s run to the French Open semi-finals was seen as heralding a return to full fitness and form, and the double grand slam winner would have been keen to sustain his winning run.

His 35-year-old opponent had other ideas, grafting through what moments of pressure Murray could apply and seizing his chances with comparative ease.

The defeat’s nature more than the loss itself will leave Murray with much work ahead as he gears up to defend his Wimbledon title.

Marinko Matosevic powered past 2011 finalist and No 5 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The 28-year-old world No 60 brushed past Tsonga 6-2 6-4, adding another scalp after beating ninth-seed Marin Cilic in the first round.

Matosevic will face top seed Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals today after the Swiss world No 3 eased past American Sam Querrey in straight sets.

Rafael Nadal, who beat Andy Murray in Paris on his way to a fifth consecutive French Open title and ninth in all, lost his opening match on grass in Halle, beaten 6-4 6-1 in less than an hour by Dustin Brown, a flamboyant and big hitting Jamaican-German.