LONDON — 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.
Verdasco wasted four break points in Murray's first two service games in the second set, but the Spaniard was broken again in the final game when he hit a backhand wide on Murray's second match point.
Earlier, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov lost 6-4, 7-6 (5) to Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.