Andy Murray’s return to singles action at Queen’s was ended on Thursday in straight sets 6-3 6-3 by tournament No1 seed Matteo Berrettini.
Murray had been bidding to become the fourth British player into the quarter-finals and showed some of the movement and returns of old in that quest.
But there was just too much rustiness – understandably so after three months out without competitive singles action and limited sets in practice – for him to trouble his Italian opponent consistently.
A string of unforced errors – forehands low into the net and groundstrokes heading long – suggested this was more about time on court than any issues with his hip or the groin stiffness he had felt in beating Benoit Paire in the opening round.
Murray could look for more tennis between now and Wimbledon after the two-time champion was handed a wildcard into the main draw on Wednesday.
The rain which had threatened to derail the match never materialised, although Murray found himself immediately under pressure with two deuces on his opening service game.
He had break points on Berrettini’s first service game but those proved nigh-on impossible to convert with the Italian raining down serves regularly in the 140mph range.
Berrettini got the break in Murray’s third service game, Murray saving two break points but not the third and he was broken again to round out the set.
Chances of a comeback from an expectant Centre Court crowd were effectively quashed by being broken immediately in the second set.
He continued to battle to hold on to his subsequent serves as well as put pressure on his opponent but defeat increasingly became an inevitability.
