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Ward caught cold as Tipsarevic clinches victory

James Ward was broken twice on Wednesday © Getty Images

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James Ward was left to rue the bad light that stopped play on Tuesday after he lost Wednesday's one-set shootout with Janko Tipsarevic at the AEGON International.

Ward, riding a wave of optimism after reaching the semi-finals at Queen's last week, threatened another upset against world No. 30 Janko Tipsarevic when he took the Serb to three sets at Eastbourne.

However, having fought back from a set down to level on Tuesday evening, bad light ruined the Brit's momentum, and he was too slow to recover upon resumption. Tipsarevic broke in the first game on Wednesday and Ward was unable to chase down the deficit, eventually losing 6-3 3-6 6-2.

The world No. 176 had the ominous task of serving first in the decider, knowing any rustiness could leave him without enough time to recover in the contest. After all, the opening two sets had both been decided by solitary breaks.

Ward faced five break points, four of which he fended off as aces arrived at crucial times. However, Tipsarevic maintained the pressure and at the fifth time of asking he converted for an immediate advantage.

Ward threatened an immediate response, racing to 0-30 in the next game and then creating two break points, but the Serb stayed strong in a hold of extreme significance. There was another chance for Ward in the next Tipsarevic service game, but for a third time he could not take his opportunity.

Instead it was Tipsarevic who effectively killed the match with a second break, but Ward nevertheless continues to trouble the world's top players heading into Wimbledon.

Also out on Wednesday is sixth seed Kevin Anderson, who lost 6-3 6-2 to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

The biggest scalp, however, was the man who beat Ward at Queen's Club last week - as top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was dumped out of the tournament by Radek Stepanek.

After losing to Andy Murray in the final of the AEGON Championships on Monday, the Frenchman looked understandably sluggish as his Czech opponent quickly got on top, with Stepanek eventually romping to a 6-2 6-3 victory in less than an hour.

At the UNICEF Open, third seed Xavier Malisse continued his solid form with a 7-6(2) 6-4 victory over Jesse Huta Galung, but No. 5 seed Jarkko Nieminen is out after a 7-6(3) 2-6 7-6(5) loss to Denis Gremelmayr.

Marco Baghdatis is through, however, the Cypriot taking advantage of a break late in the opening set to provide the basis for a hard-fought straight sets victory over Robin Haase, eventually winning 7-5 6-4.

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