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London - Lleyton Hewitt could be set to consider retirement after the Australian veteran revealed doubts about returning to chase a record fifth Queen's Club title next year.
Hewitt's bid for another success at the Wimbledon warm-up event in west London came to an end on Wednesday as he was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Spanish 10th seed Feliciano Lopez in the second round.
The 33-year-old has competed for 15 seasons at Queen's, but he admitted he has not made a decision about returning in 2015.
Hewitt, who reached the Queen's semi-finals last year, has not won the grass-court tournament since 2006.
But, after battling with a series of injuries, he had climbed back to 43rd in the world rankings thanks in large part to his first singles title since 2010 at January's Brisbane International.
The former world number one, who won Wimbledon in 2002, is tied on four Queen's titles with Andy Roddick, Boris Becker and John McEnroe, but conceded he may not chase the elusive fifth, raising the possibility that he could hang up his racquet in the next 12 months.
"Who knows, I don't know," Hewitt said when asked if he would be back next year.
"I have enjoyed coming back here. It's always nice.
"It's one of my favourite tournaments, I love coming back here.
"I had a really good run last year as well.
"You always have good memories to come back to places where you played well."
Results from the third day of the ATP Queens tournament
Second round
Radek Stepanek (CZE x15) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5)
Kenny De Schepper (FRA) bt Ernests Gulbis (LAT x6) 7-6 (7/3), 7-5
Feliciano Lopez (ESP x10) bt Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 6-3, 6-4
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) bt Vctor Estrella (DOM) 6-1, 6-2
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) bt Dmitry Tursunov (RUS x12) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3)
Kenny De Schepper (FRA) bt Ernests Gulbis (LAT x6) 7-6 (7/3), 7-5
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x1) bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 3-2 abandon
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN x11) 6-4, 6-4
Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. (UKR x8) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (9/7)
