MARCOS Baghdatis was beaten in the second round of the AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club in London on Wednesday, the Cypriot going down 6-3 4-6 6-4 to Lukasz Rosol of the Czech Republic.
Rosol broke Baghdatis twice on his way to the opening set before the Limassol native fought back to level the match at one set all.
The third set was again a tight affair but it was Rosol who ultimately sealed his place in the third round after two hours.
Rosol will now take on Marin Cilic after the Croat cruised past Australian Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-1 in his second round encounter, while the Cypriot will have ten days to prepare for Wimbledon.
Baghdatis will get some more grass-court practice in the doubles at Queen’s alongside Briton Jamie Murray against Italian Simone Bolelli and Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.
He is also expected to feature at the AEGON International in Eastbourne next week.
Earlier on Wednesday, Andy Murray’s preparations for Wimbledon suffered a blow when the Briton was beaten in his opening match at Queen’s by Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.
The Scot, defending champion at the grasscourt event, never looked comfortable on the centre court and went out 6-3 6-7 7-6.
Mahut, the 2008 finalist, raced through the third-set tiebreak, taking the first six points to win 7-1.
The Frenchman will now play Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov while Murray, the world number four, must find another way to prepare for the start of Wimbledon on June 25.
Cyprus Mail