• AEGON Championship

Fish holds nerve to topple Murray

Andy Murray was far from happy after toppling to defeat © Getty Images

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Andy Murray's bid to defend his AEGON Championship title ended in disappointment as he was sent crashing out at the hands of Mardy Fish who claimed a 6-4 1-6 7-6(2) win to move into the quarter finals.

The British No. 1 was forced to return to finish his match on Friday, having been in the ascendancy when the players were called off for bad light at 3-3 in the final set on Thursday. Murray cut a disappointed figure when leaving the court, but showed no signs of frustration on Friday as he started well. However, he tightened up markedly in the tie-break to hand Fish a place in the last eight.

There is always a fear that resuming after a rain delay can cause the first server real problems, but Fish dismissed that notion with a stunning love service game.

Murray came out firing on all cylinders behind his own serve, powering down a love service game, and thrilled the crowd with a glorious disguised drop shot from the baseline.

The response from Fish was equally impressive, a love hold, and it took until the 16th point for the receiver to take a point against the serve. It was just a brief shift in the balance of power as Murray secured the hold for 5-5 with a sumptuous topspin lob.

Fish mixed things up in game 11 as he opted to serve and volley. It proved an astute tactic as he showed some great control on both his forehand and backhand volley. Murray came out totally unfazed as he saved to love to take the match into a deciding breaker.

The Brit drew first blood, reading a swinging Fish serve to rifle a forehand cross court for a clean winner, but Fish hit back with a forehand of his own that caught the line.

The ordinary nature of Murray's play reared its head as he netted a backhand and threw another one over the baseline. Fish sensed his chance and chip and charged on the Murray serve to secure a second mini-break. Fish was strong on serve all match and his arm stood up to the pressure to knock the British No. 1 out of Queen's.

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