Murray Hands Mahut Loss in Search of Queen's Title

Andy Murray finally kicked off his hunt for a record-breaking fifth Queen's title with victory over Nicolas Mahut on another day of heavy rain in the British capital.

The No. 1 seed and reigning champion took 110 minutes to dismiss the Frenchman's stiff challenge, claiming a 7-6(8), 7-6(1) win under the steely gaze of returning coach Ivan Lendl.

After downpours forced the start of play back by 90 minutes, fans and organisers inside the west London club were more than a little worried Tuesday would prove just as much of a washout as Monday, when bad weather allowed for just one match to be completed.

Things were looking ominous after Fernando Verdasco's upset of Stan Wawrinka was halted for several hours due to bad weather, but a break in the clouds after 5pm saw Murray step into action for the first time since the shock return of Lendl.

The pair have not worked together since their surprise split in the spring of 2014, but British tennis fans will be hoping the renewed partnership brings the same level of success they enjoyed during their first spell together, when Murray won the US Open, Wimbledon, and Olympic gold.

While Murray came through his opening test relatively unscathed, there was no such luck for No. 2 seed Wawrinka, who was dumped out 6-2, 7-6(3) by Verdasco in a heavily-delayed opening match of the afternoon.

Former England captain David Beckham was among those frequently running for cover as the heavens opened, but while the spectators shrugged off the raindrops with a smile and a glass of Pimm's, Wawrinka appeared frustrated by the repeated interruptions.

Playing in front of new grass-court coach and 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, Wawrinka had the first set whipped from under him by the underdog Verdasco, who appeared more comfortable on the greasy surface.

Monday's washout meant 15 matches had to be scheduled on Tuesday, with big seeds pushed onto the outside courts, and there will be further juggling of schedules on Wednesday after Britain's Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans saw their respective matches against Gilles Simon and Paul-Henri Mathieu postponed.

However, in Tuesday's limited action, 2012 champion Marin Cilic fought back after losing the first set to defeat Spain's Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while No. 6 seed Roberto Bautista Agut saw off Sam Querrey in a marathon 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 7-6(1) encounter. -- By ESPN