British number two James Ward was beaten 6-3 6-4 by Australia’s Bernard Tomic in the first round at Eastbourne.
World number 64 Tomic has endured a difficult season and was forced to retire from the French Open at the first round stage with a hamstring injury but was rarely stretched in what was a first meeting between the players.
Tomic broke the serve of world number 216 Ward to take a 5-3 advantage in the first set before holding to confirm the set, and it was a similar story in the second as it went with serve until the Australian secured a late break to wrap up the win in just over an hour.
The win was Tomic’s first match in almost two months – his first since his father, John, was charged with allegedly assaulting Bernard’s former training partner, Frenchman Thomas Drouet, in May.
ATP Eastbourne results
Bernard Tomic (Australia) beat James Ward (Britain) 6-3 6-4
ATP s’Hertogenbosch results
5-Jeremy Chardy (France) beat Lucas Pouille (France) 7-5 6-4
Michael Llodra (France) beat 4-Benoit Paire (France) 3-0 (Paire retired)
Marius Copil (Romania) beat Rogerio Dutra Silva (Brazil) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2
Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) 6-1 7-6(3)
