Nick Kyme and James Stout?s singles adventures at the Commonwealth Games came to an end on the same day they started at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre last night.

But having both dismissed African opponents with consummate ease in their first round morning matches, it came as no surprise that they bowed out in their second round evening contests against players ranked in the world?s top 20.

What wasn?t so predictable was the manner in which Stout succumbed ? bizarrely retiring midway through his third game against Welshman Alex Gough when playing his best squash of the day and on the verge of pushing the 13th seed into a fourth game. Having struggled in the first two against Gough, losing 4-9, 1-9, the 21-year-old Bermudian was leading 7-1 in the third when he suddenly pointed to his chest and indicated he couldn?t continue.

Within seconds he?d dashed off court and outside, leaving Gough, bronze medallist in Kuala Lumpur eight year ago and currently ranked 20th in the world, as bewildered as the small Bermuda contingent at courtside.

It was only some minutes later that Stout offered an explanation, claiming he had been so physically drained by his efforts in the first two games that he was on the verge of collapse.

?I couldn?t keep my food down, I felt sick. If I?d have stayed on court I?d have thrown up,? he lamented.

?At 7-1 up in the third I was very happy, it was the best squash I?ve played in a long time. I wanted that third game, but I had to get off court, I was suffering out there.

?At the end of the second I thought I?d reached my limit but I picked up some points at the start of the third and I tried to keep it going. I got 7-1 up but I had a couple of long points and that?s when I realised I just couldn?t go on.

?I don?t think it was something I ate . . . physically it was just too much.?

In contrast, Kyme, pitted against Scotland?s sixth-seeded veteran John White in the final match of the night on the all-glass centre court, showed few signs of fatigue.

But there was little he could do against the hard-hitting 32-year-old, ranked ninth in the world, as he went down 7-9, 1-9, 1-9 in a match that might have taken on a different complexion had Kyme hung on to win the first game after putting his opponent under enormous pressure.

Trailing 0-2, Kyme suddenly embarked on a purple patch, running White ragged as he built up a 7-3 lead with some delightful shots into all four corners of the court.

Slowly but surely, though, the rugged Scot fought back, his pride seemingly wounded by a player some 60 places further down the world rankings.

And having got back on level terms with some ferocious hitting, he quickly stamped his authority on the match.

Kyme admitted it might have been much closer had he made the most of his early advantage.

?I?d like to think so,? he said.

?But John stepped it up a lot, he got his eye in. I?m a little disappointed actually, the opportunities were there but that?s what makes him so good. I was just off on some things and he capitalised.

?I think he was a little nervous of losing that first game. He?s such a good player, it?s tough to tell. I?d like to think I had him on the ropes.

?He doesn?t normally make errors, and in that first game he made a few which is why I got ahead. If you?re not perfect he?ll make you pay. He hits a ton, you don?t have any time to react and he has plenty, that?s the difference.?

Out of the singles, the two Bermudians can now concentrate their efforts on next week?s doubles, an event in which they won gold at last year?s Small Island Games.

The competition here will be far tougher than it was in the Shetlands, but organisers have still seen fit to seed the Island pair 12th. As for today?s losers? plate competition it?s unlikely either will compete.

Kyme says he?s not particularly interested while the ailing Stout says he wants ?to take the next couple of days easy.? ?If I?m not in condition to go all out, then I won?t play,? he said.