Nadal, defending champ Murray knocked out at Queen’s Club; top 6 seeds out

Nadal, defending champ Murray exit Queen’s Club

LONDON — Rafael Nadal was dealt a setback in his Wimbledon preparations when he lost at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament on Friday.

The French Open champion fell 7-6 (5), 6-4 to compatriot Feliciano Lopez in the quarterfinals, ending Nadal’s grass-court winning streak at 14 matches.

Third-seeded Andy Murray was another surprise loser when he went down 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (2) to the American Mardy Fish in a delayed third-round match.

It ensured the top six seeds are missing from the semifinal lineup in west London, a traditional warmup for Wimbledon, which begins June 21.

On Saturday, Fish takes on Lopez and seventh-seeded American Sam Querrey plays the winner of the Rainer Schuettler-Dudi Sela quarterfinal.

Querrey beat Belgium’s Xavier Malisse 6-3, 7-5 in their quarterfinal, while the unseeded Fish earned his semifinal spot by returning later Friday to oust Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-4.

Nadal, the 2008 Wimbledon champion, was unable to subdue a lively challenge from Lopez in the first meeting on grass of the two left-handers. It marked Nadal’s first loss to Lopez since 2003.

“He played well,” Nadal said. “I think his serve was very good, and, you know, from the baseline he has very good slice, and with the forehand he can have a very good shot. I just congratulate him.”

After an exchange of breaks in the opening two games, the first set went to a tiebreaker, which Lopez won when Nadal netted a forehand.

In the second set, Lopez broke to lead 3-2 but Nadal broke him in the next game with a winning return. Nadal then faced two break points at 5-4 and double-faulted to leave Lopez serving for the match.

Nadal reported no problems with the thigh injury that was treated on Thursday, but withdrew from the doubles citing a right hamstring strain. He plans to return to Spain for a few days of relaxation before preparing for Wimbledon.

Murray was upset Thursday when the match was halted at 3-3 in the final set because of fading light.

When they resumed on Friday, each player dropped just one point on serve as the set went to a tiebreaker, which Fish dominated after the first four points had gone against serve.

“Today was a bit of a shootout,” Murray said. “On grass, especially, you play one or two bad points in a tiebreak and it’s done.”

On Thursday, after an appeal by Fish and the intervention of ATP Tour supervisor Tom Barnes, play was suspended. Murray remained on the service line and looked bewildered long after Fish had left the court.