Dustin Brown

Brown, one of the most improved players on the circuit who has climbed more than 350 places in the rankings to 105, could not match the consistency and pinpoint accuracy of Melzer, who reached his first grand slam semi-final at this year’s French Open. But Brown refused to be downhearted, raising a quizzical smile as a fan shouted out at the end: “See you next year mate.”

The last Jamaican man to play at Wimbledon was Richard Russell in 1970. He failed to qualify in 1972. Russell was also the last Jamaican man to appear in a Grand Slam tournament, losing in the second round in the French Open in 1974.