Andy Murray's comeback has been delayed after rain washed out the entire day's play at Queen's Club for only the third time in 18 years on Tuesday.

Murray, competing in the Fever-Tree Championships doubles alongside Feliciano Lopez as he makes a tentative return to action five months after hip surgery, was due to play on Wednesday.

But their first-round match against Colombian top seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Jean-Julian Rojer has now had to be put back until Thursday.

That is because Lopez's singles match against Marton Fucsovics was one of those which fell foul of Tuesday's weather, and the Spaniard is now first on Court One at noon.

Dan Evans' showdown with Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka is second on Centre Court, followed by fellow Brit Kyle Edmund's match against top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Queen's Club organisers gave full refunds to spectators left frustrated by the rain.

The only previous occasions a total wash-out occurred since the turn of the century was finals day in 2011 – which meant Murray's final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was played on the Monday – and the opening day in 2012.

When Murray does eventually step back onto a tennis court it will be just 143 days after undergoing the operation in a bid to salvage his career.

The two-time Wimbledon champion and former world number one tearfully announced at January's Australian Open that it may have to be his last tournament, such was the pain his chronic injury was giving him.

Instead, on January 28, Murray went under the knife and had a metal plate inserted into the joint.

No player has competed in top-level singles after undergoing the hip resurfacing operation, but American Bob Bryan has returned to the doubles circuit.

However, Murray is not reinventing himself as a doubles player.

Queen's, followed by Eastbourne and Wimbledon, are about testing his body, putting miles on the clock and regaining some match sharpness with a view to resuming his singles career before the end of the year.

"My goal is still to get back to playing singles, ultimately," said the 32-year-old Scot.

"Maybe six to eight weeks ago I was chatting with my team about the best way to get back onto the court again, singles-wise.

"We felt doubles would be a good option to test myself out and see how I feel, where there is maybe a bit obviously less loading on the body, less movement, but you still have to make some quick moves and have quick reactions.

"It felt like it was actually a nice progression of the rehab I've been doing and getting back onto the court and see how I feel on a match court playing doubles.

"Then that will give me some information about where I'm at and maybe things I need to improve or whatever."