Dandenong's Marinko Matosevic out in Wimbledon first round

Marinko Matosevic during his round 1 singles loss at Wimbledon. Picture: Dan Kitwood, Getty Images

By EWEN MCRAE: emcrae@mmpgroup.com.au

DANDENONG  tennis star Marinko Matosevic has continued his winless run in major tournaments, going down in four sets on the opening day of Wimbledon overnight.

Matosevic has now played 10 matches at grand slam tournaments without a win, after going down in four sets to Frenchman Guillaume Rufin, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The world number 72 started slowly, as Rufin breazed through the opening set, but on a cold London morning Matosevic was able to square the ledger in the second as he slowly found his range.

But a crucial point when down break point in the third set turned the match against Matosevic, with a close call on the baseline frustrating the Australian as he believed the ball had travelled long.

Despite Matosevic’s protests to the chair umpire, replay’s showed the ball had clipped the line, and the set soon went the way of the Frenchman.

Matosevic dropped his serve early in the last and Rufin wrapped up the match soon after, leaving the Australian to rue another first round exit.