Andy Murray falls in opening round to Alex de Minaur at Queen's

Andy Murray is confident some much-needed rest will ensure he is at his very best for Wimbledon, after he exited the cinch Championships in the first round at the hands of Alex de Minaur.

The Australian world no.18 won 6-3 6-1 in front of a packed out centre court at the Queen’s Club, breaking early in the first set to take control of the contest.

It ended Murray’s winning start to the summer on home soil after victories at the LTA’s Lexus Surbiton Trophy and Rothesay Open Nottingham, but the three-time Grand Slam champion insisted he will be back to his best in no time.

He said: “Right now the priority is to take a few days rest, physically and mentally recharge a little bit and then go to work on my game.

“The last few weeks there have been lots of positives, I served very well across the two weeks, that wasn’t so much the case today but it is something I will definitely work on. I don’t want to overanalyse today.

“There are definitely some things I can do better but at the same time I have done lots of good things over the last couple of weeks and I want to keep going in that direction.

“I know my level is there to compete with the top players, I just need to take a few days and get a good week or 10 days work in and I am sure I will be playing well on the first Monday of Wimbledon.”

Murray was joined in defeat on day two at the cinch Championships by fellow British player Liam Broady who lost 1-6 6-4 6-3 to Adrian Mannarino.

Broady raced into a one set lead and was a break to the good against the Frenchman but was unable to seal the second set before ultimately falling to the world No.46.

There were mixed fortunes for British players in the doubles, as Dan Evans and Lloyd Glasspool made it past compatriots Broady and Jonny O’Mara 7-6(5) 6-4, while Julian Cash and Luke Johnson were beaten 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 14-12 by Nicolas Mahut and Fabrice Martin.

Centre court also saw top seed Carlos Alcaraz make his cinch Championships debut, and the 20-year-old admitted he found it tough at times as he battled past Arthur Rinderknech 4-6 7-5 7-6(3).

“It was difficult at the beginning, grass is never easy in the first matches,” said Alcaraz.

“I was thinking during the match that I needed the hours on court and to play as much as I can so it was great to have this tough match.”

Alcaraz will be joined in the second round by second seed Holger Rune after the Dane beat Maxime Cressy 7-6(4) 7-6(3) in a tightly fought contest, while third and fourth seeds Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe also progressed.

For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website