Why it matters that Top 3 Queen's Club seeds lost

There’s precious little time for the grass-courts season, and matches can end in the blink of an eye. The pace is quicker, points are shorter and results more unpredictable. That was made obvious during Tuesday’s first round at the Queen’s Club where the top three seeds all tumbled out.

How much should Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic be concerned? Plenty, if this was a preview for the weeks to come. This was their collective grass-courts tune-up for what might shape up to be a wild and wacky Wimbledon.

Murray is Wimbledon’s defending champion and the intense British media will be hanging onto his every move. The world No. 1 reminded everyone that he will keep preparing with the only goal that matters in late June.

The Scot’s fall at Queen’s Club means that world No. 2 Rafael Nadal closes within 2,105 points of the top spot.

But while the vultures circle around Murray’s subpar performance, all credit to the young Aussies who stole the show, Jordan Thompson and Raonic's conquerer Thanasi Kokkinakis.

The lucky loser, ranked No. 90, took down Murray in straight sets, 7-6 (4), 6-2, while his compatriot Kokkinakis shocked Milos Raonic, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8).

Kokkinakis had completely dropped off the ATP map since late 2015 (playing only Rio in 2016) thanks to multiple shoulder and abdominal injuries. Now ranked No. 698, it's the biggest win of his young career.

It’s a tough blow for Raonic, who was the runner up at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon last year. He and new coach Mark Knowles will need to turn the page quickly.

Wawrinka’s loss to Feliciano Lopez is only a minor upset, but he appeared to be struggling with a left knee injury late in the match.

Maybe it was just a bad day for the normally great trio, and maybe it pushes them to peak at Wimbledon, or maybe it opens the door for the field at the All England Club. The grass-court Slam starts July 3.

Follow Jeremy on Twitter: @JeremyEckstein1