Britain's Aljaz Bedene has crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round courtesy of a straight-sets defeat at the hands of Richard Gasquet.
Gasquet overcame the home favourite and British number two 6-3 6-4 6-3 to book his place in the second round.
The Frenchman got off to a perfect start by racing into a 3-0 lead, and while Bedene looked to have recovered by breaking back later in the set, he then gave away his own serve in the very next game as Gasquet won 6-3.
Another break in the fifth game of the second set put Gasquet in complete control, and he survived three break points against him in the very next game to ensure that he kept that advantage.
The rest of the set went with serve to finish 6-4 in Gasquet's favour, and he broke again in the very first game of the final set to put himself on course for victory.
Bedene did show fighting spirit by holding serve against five break points in the third game, but it was only a temporary reprieve as Gasquet broke again in the final game to wrap up the win.
Gasquet will now face either Marcel Granollers or Victor Estrella Burgos in the next round.
Barney Corkhill
