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Ward unable to repeat Queen's heroics

James Ward prepares to serve © Getty Images

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James Ward's Wimbledon preparations were cut short as he tumbled out of the AEGON Championships with defeat to Kevin Anderson.

Ward enjoyed a stunning run at The Queen's Club last year, reaching the semi-finals of the ATP 250 event before eventually falling to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

However, despite winning the opening set in confident fashion, the British No. 2, who was handed a wildcard for Wimbledon on Tuesday, bowed out with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 defeat to the powerful South African, seeded ninth in London.

Jamie Baker triumphed in an all-British clash to set up a second-round encounter with No. 2 seed Tsonga. Baker's experience proved key as he saw off Oliver Golding 7-6(1) 6-3. After losing a tight opening set on a tiebreak, Golding's resistance was dented and Baker grabbed two early breaks to streak away to victory.

Meanwhile top seed Andy Murray will play Nicolas Mahut on Wednesday after the Frenchman got the better of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4 6-2.

There will just be two British players in the second round after Liam Broady was defeated by Luxemburg's Gilles Muller. Muller, who beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon back in 2005, fired 11 aces as he eased to a 6-1 6-2 victory inside 54 minutes.

Four time champion Lleyton Hewitt failed to make the most of his wildcard as he was overpowered by Ivo Karlovic in straight sets. Former world No. 1 Hewitt, who has also been handed a wildcard for Wimbledon, surrendered to a 6-3 6-2 defeat.

Sam Querrey beat Oliver Rochus 6-1 6-7(4) 6-4, Marcos Baghdatis overcame Federico Gil 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2, Ernests Gulbis lost 6-3 6-4 to Simone Bolelli and Grigor Dimitrov toppled Bobby Reynolds 6-3 7-5.

Meanwhile at the Gerry Weber Open in Germany, home favourite Tommy Haas received a free pass into the second round following the withdrawal of Bernard Tomic, who has been struggling with an illness. The Australian trailed 5-2 when he offered his hand.

Florian Mayer joined compatriot Haas in the second round with victory over American qualifier Tim Smyczek to set up a second-round meeting with five-time champion Roger Federer, while Lukasz Lacko will face French Open champion Rafael Nadal following a 2-6 6-2 6-3 win over Konstantin Kravchuk.

Sixth seed Marcel Granollers defeated Mischa Zverev 6-4 6-2, while Radek Stepanek upset seventh seed Andreas Seppi 7-6(6) 4-6 7-6(7).

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