WIMBLEDON, London -- James Ward lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Centre Court and broke ranks on Britain's impending exit from the European Union to reveal he voted in favour of the nation leaving.
Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Johanna Konta were among those who avoided giving an opinion on last week's referendum result when they took media questions last weekend.
But Ward, a first-round loser to Djokovic on Monday, wasn't afraid to disclose which side he backed in his postmatch media conference. "I voted out -- I'm not fussed about saying it," Ward said. "I don't know others who are or not.
"I'm happy with my decision. I think we'll be all right. Everyone needs to stop panicking and we'll be fine."
Asked if he thought Brexit might make his life more expensive on the ATP tour, Ward added: "It may do. But it's still an expensive life out there anyway. I don't think it's going to change too much."
However, Ward admitted he lost his cool in his match against Djokovic, as he was left cold by the world No.1 in the first set on the way to a 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-4 defeat.
He said: "The more the games go on, you start panicking. Everything you hit is coming back. You have to try and calm down a little bit.
"I'm proud of myself the way I turned it around because it could have been ugly. When it [Centre Court] is full up and everyone is cheering for you, you're playing against the world No.1, it's a day you remember for the rest of your life."
It wasn't a memorable day for Kyle Edmund, however, on another disappointing first day for British interest. He was comfortably beaten, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, in the first round by Adrian Mannarino.
The 21-year-old has now played in four editions of The Championships without tasting victory and his slow start to each set against his French opponent on Count No.2 was a major factor in the result.
Edmund has won two titles on the Challenger circuit this year, in Dallas and Rome, but cannot seem to make the step up to Grand Slam level, having only won two of nine matches at majors and with both of those coming at Roland Garros.
"I played quite inconsistently in a few departments," Edmund said. "Just didn't serve consistently well. It's disappointing, straight sets. it shows I need lots and lots of improvement."
There was to be one British male winner on Monday, however, as the fairytale story of Marcus Willis continued.
Ranked No.772 in the world, he had never played a tour-level match and had $64 in prize money to his name this season. But after coming through six matches to make his Wimbledon debut, Willis dispatched Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in front of a raucous Court 17 crowd.
Daniel Evans later joined Willis in the second round with a 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7), 7-5 win over world No.86 Jan-Lennard Struff.
There was more disappointment for British tennis In the women's draw. Laura Robson's hopes were ended by Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, who claimed a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Her fellow Briton Naomi Broady, the world No.119, was also defeated, going down 6-2, 6-3 to 17th seed Elina Svitolina on Court 3.
Elsewhere, Brydan Klein also exited the All England Club at the first hurdle, going down in straight sets to Nicolas Mahut.
Klein, awarded a wild card for the tournament, lost a first-set tiebreaker before the Frenchmen broke him once in both the second and third sets for a 7-6(0), 6-4, 6-4 victory on Court 17.
Another disappointing result for home fans was Alexander Ward's defeat to David Goffin. The wild card entrant's slim hopes were quickly dashed as No.11 seed Goffin raced to a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win in 92 minutes.