Murray beats Verdasco, Dimitrov loses at Queen's

Top-seeded Andy Murray stayed on course for a record-tying fourth title at Queen’s Club on Thursday by defeating Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-4 in the second round.Murray is attempting to join John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Andy Roddick and lleyton Hewitt as a four-time winner, and broke Verdasco for the second time to claim the first set.

Earlier, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov lost 6-4, 7-6 (5) to Gilles Muller of luxembourg. The sixth-seeded Bulgarian won the title last year by defeating Feliciano lopez, but has failed to reach a final since. He was bidding to successfully defend a title for the first time in his career.

“I don’t think I’m playing bad tennis at the moment,” Dimitrov said. “I just am doing a lot of good things on the court which really don’t discourage me to play. Of course, it’s a tough loss for me, but I give credit to Gilles. He played a good match.”