Jamie Murray and Alex Ward fall in Stuttgart

By Philip James

Despite Andy Murray’s inspiring win on Centre Court on Sunday, the new age of success in British may not be following on directly.

Andy’s brother Jamie and his partner John Peers were knocked out of the Mercedes Cup doubles in Stuttgart today, while Alex Ward exited the singles of the same tournament.

Third-seeded Murray and Peers lost to Andreas Siljestrom and Igor Zelenay 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 in an hour and 13 minutes on the German clay court.

Murray and Peers won the first set before losing the second to force the deciding Champions Tie-break, in which they lost 5 points in a row to end the match.

Ward, 23, had impressively come through three rounds of qualifying in to reach the main draw at Stuttgart including Dustin Brown, Lleyton Hewitt’s conqueror at Wimbledon.

Today Ward, ranked 382 in the world and Britain’s number nine, was up against the fifth-seeded Fabio Fognini.

Ward lost to the Italian, ranked 351 places higher, in a close match 6-3, 7-6(5) in an hour and 20 minutes.