Murray fakes being flustered as Queen’s defence ends abruptly

Murray’s defence of his AEGON Championships crown at Queen’s ended in limp fashion as he lost 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-7 (1/7) to world No 65 Nicolas Mahut on centre court.

Murray seemed off colour in the first set and despite a marginally improved showing thereafter, Mahut fully deserved to advance to the last 16 after outclassing his opponent in almost every department.

Having exited the French Open at the quarter-final stage last week, Murray had been looking to use Queen’s as a platform from which he could launch an assault on the Wimbledon crown he craves so dearly.

Yesterday’s defeat will raise further questions about his ability to go all the way at the All England Club next month, especially now that he will have little practice on grass, but the Scot is not concerned.

“It’s panic stations now. I’ve just got no chance to be ready for Wimbledon. It’s going to be impossible, I think,” the world No 4 said sarcastically.

“This kind if thing happens often. Novak Djokovic isn’t playing the next two weeks so there is no need for me to panic.

“I lost the match 7-6 in the third in my first game of the tournament and it takes a bit of time to adjust to the grass courts.”

Murray now aims to play a couple of exhibition games next week and will resist the temptation to play in the AEGON International at Eastbourne.

There was no sign of Murray’s ultimate failure at the start of the match as he earned two break points against the unseeded Mahut, but his opponent survived and gained the initiative after a questionable sliced lob left the door open and Mahut moved 4-2 ahead. Murray edged a nervy second set tie-break but then threw away the match in the following set. He broke Mahut but the 6ft 3ins 2007 finalist broke back and showed remarkable composure to swat aside the home favourite in a very one-sided tie-break.

Jamie Baker lost to world No 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 6-2 in just under an hour.

Andy Roddick crashed out following a shock 6-4 4-6 7-5 defeat to French outsider Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

Elena Baltacha lost her all-British meeting to Heather Watson in the Aegon Classic second round 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

It was a bad day for British women as Mel South fell to Jelena Jankovic 1-6 6-7 (3-7), GB No 1 Anne Keothavong lost 6-3 6-4 to Zheng Zhi, Casey Dellacqua edged out Briton Tara Moore 4-6 6-4 6-1. Laura Robson also lost 6-4 3-6 6-4 to ninth seed Marina Erakovic.