Marin Cilic hoping to improve with every match at Queen’s Club

Marin Cilic is hoping to use the Fever-Tree Championships as a launching pad for a tilt at next month’s Wimbledon.

The top seed, runner-up in 2017, got off to a winning start after beating Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4 at Queen’s Club.

Cilic came close at SW19 last year, losing to Roger Federer after suffering from bad blisters in the final.

And he hopes another lengthy run here will stand him in good stead for the All England Club.

“This year, it’s a new year, new season,” he said. “You start all over again. You can’t live on the glory from last year.

“You have to show that again, and hopefully this tournament is going to bring me back to the form, bring those memories of playing great.

“I’m pushing myself to get better and better every single match.”

Another big-name winner was three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who took British number two Cameron Norrie apart 6-2 6-3 in just 56 minutes.

Sam Querrey, who was the last person to play Andy Murray last July, eased past British hopeful Jay Clarke.

The American’s big-serving game is suited to the grass and he proved too good for the wildcard, winning 6-3 6-4.

Another American with a big serve is out, though, after sixth-seed Jack Sock was beaten by Daniil Medvedev.

The Russian prevailed 7-5 6-3 to increase his growing reputation.

Last year’s semi-finalist Gilles Muller was the first winner of the day, beating Denis Shapovalov in straight sets, winning 7-6 (9/7) 7-6 (8/6), while Jared Donaldson won the all-American contest with Frances Tiafoe 6-4 7-6 (7/4).

In the Gerry Weber Cup in Halle, third seed Dominic Thiem earned a straight-sets win over Mikhail Youzhny.

The French Open finalist made a quick adaption from clay to grass and won 7-6 (7/5) 6-2.

Kei Nishikori was a comfortable winner over Matthias Bachinger, claiming a 6-3 7-6 (7/3) success, while fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 6-1 in a comfortable outing.

There were also wins for Robin Haase, Denis Kudla and Yuichi Sugita.