• AEGON Championships

Brits crash out at Queen's

James Ward produced a spirited display against Robby Ginepri but fell to a 6-3 7-5 defeat © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Robson falls at first hurdle but Watson impresses
  
• News: Nadal beaten by Lopez at Queen's
  
• News: Djokovic and Roddick both sent crashing out
  
• News: Injured Gasquet pulls out of Queen's
  

British No. 3 James Ward and Jamie Baker failed to make the most of their moment in the spotlight as they both slipped to first-round exits on the first day of action at the AEGON Championships at Queen's Club.

On a day of few shocks, Baker struggled to deal with the power of No. 16 seed Denis Istomin as he slipped to a 6-1 6-4 defeat on centre court. The Uzbekistani served solidly throughout and backed that up with two service breaks to take the opening set 6-1.

To his credit, Baker stepped it up in the second, saving break points in consecutive service games, but soon found himself serving to stay in the match at 5-3. Once again the 23-year-old managed to hold successfully but Istomin was too strong on serve and wrapped up the second set and the match in clinical fashion.

Ward, the British No. 5, fared better in his clash with Robby Ginepri as he threatened to take the American to three sets. A series of unforced errors crippled the 23-year-old's hopes, though, as he failed to capitalise on a 4-2 lead in the second set.

Ginepri, who reached the fourth round of the French Open before falling to Novak Djokovic, had to work hard to earn his win as Ward looked to move into the net at every opportunity. The world No. 70 saved six break points during a competitive contest but always had the necessary class required to advance to seal to a 6-3 7-5 success.

Alex Bogdanovic will have to return to finish his clash with Grigor Dimitrov after rain intervened with the match well poised at a set all. Bogdanovic took the first set 6-4, but Dimitrov found some quality on both wings to level the match. The third set went with serve, with Bogdanovic 2-1 ahead.

Former world No. 7 Richard Gasquet produced a slick display to take out Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3, while 2003 Australian Open finalist Rainer Schuettler looked good at the net as he closed out a 6-1 6-2 success over Daniel Gimeno-Traver in an efficient 45-minute win.

Richard Gasquet could be a threat to Andy Murray's crown after he progressed into the second round in comfortable fashion © Getty Images

Enlarge

No. 12 seed Michael Llodra needed a further 10 minutes to seal his progress with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Andrey Golubev. The French left-hander will face Jesse Levine in the second round after he won an all-American battle against wild card Ryan Harrison 6-3 6-3.

Elsewhere, No. 14 seed Dudi Sela recovered from a set down to beat Chris Guccione 6-7(4) 7-6(5) 6-4 and Julien Benneteau defeated fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-2 6-4 on court one.

There were also wins for Luxembourg's Gilles Muller, Russia's Igor Kunitsyn and Spain's Ivan Navarro - who will face defending champion Andy Murray in the next round.

At the Gerry Weber Open in Germany, No. 4 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero suffered an embarrassing first-round exit at the hands of world No. 203 Dominik Meffert.

The Spaniard, who lost to Andy Murray in both the semi-finals at Queen's and the quarter finals at Wimbledon last year, looked a shadow of himself as he gifted his German opponent numerous chances to break during an erratic display of serving as he slumped to a 6-3 7-5 defeat.

No. 7 seed Marcos Baghdatis also crashed out as Philipp Petzschner broke the Cypriot's serve four times in a dominant 6-4 6-3 victory.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt came through his match with fellow Australian Peter Luczak unscathed as he lost only three points on serve in a comfortable 6-2 6-2 win. Viktor Troicki was in ruthless mood as he progressed with an efficient 6-1 7-6(4) win over Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Slovakia's Lukas Lacko enjoyed the easiest of tiebreak wins as he overcame Jeremy Chardy 7-5 7-6(0) to progress to the second round, while Thiemo De Bakker served 10 aces as he beat Rohan Bopanna in straight sets.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.