Roddick Begins Queen's Defence With Three-Set Win

´Robby was really aggressive in the first set,´ Roddick said. ´I found my feet in the second and went on from there.´

Big-serving American Andy Roddick began his pursuit of a fifth Queen's title on Wednesday, thumping down 15 aces to beat compatriot Robby Ginepri 6-7 6-1 6-1 at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament.

The third seed, who had a bye in the first round, had played no competitions since pulling out of the Italian Masters with a back and shoulder injury last month and in the first set he looked rusty.

Ginepri, who reached the fourth round of the French Open and had a good workout in his 6-4 7-6 first-round match against compatriot Vince Spadea on Monday, looked comfortable going forward and clinched the tiebreak 8-6 with two neat volleys.

But after screaming in frustration when he floated an easy backhand into the net, Roddick finally got into his stride, thumping down serves and finding the lines with his returns.

The Roddick grasscourt battery, which has taken him to two Wimbledon finals, broke Ginepri's serve twice in the second set and twice in the third for a run of nine games in a row.

The former U.S. Open champion, ranked sixth in the world, won the match with another break when a disheartened Ginepri dumped his shot into the net.

"Robby was really aggressive in the first set," Roddick said. "I found my feet in the second and went on from there."

The 25-year-old from Omaha said he was pleased to have got through three sets without aggravating his injury and said he felt good being back on grass, particularly at Queen's where he has won four of the last five singles titles.

"I feel very comfortable here and hopefully I can get another one," Roddick said.

Fifth seed Richard Gasquet of France, also playing his first match on grass after a bye through to the second round, made brisk work of Simone Bolelli, ranked 47th in the world, beating the Italian 6-3 6-3.