London: Andy Roddick's right shoulder survived a stern examination by Spaniard Feliciano Lopez on Tuesday as the American opened his grasscourt season with a 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 victory in the second round at Queen's Club.
The three-time Wimbledon runner-up broke Lopez's wickedly sliding left-handed serve for the first time in the last game of the match to move into the third round of the tournament he has won four times.
"I'm so happy to be back in London at one of my favourite tournaments in the world," the former world number one who missed the French Open because of pain in his serving shoulder said in a courtside interview in the west London sunshine.
"I knew it would be a tough match. He's a very good grasscourt player and he serves big but I thought I really started to return well in that third set."
Roddick, always popular with the London crowds for his all-action style, was joined in the third round by Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro who beat Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-2 despite needing treatment after tumbling on the slick grass.
Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion whose career has been stalled by wrist and hip injuries, said he was unscathed and looking forward to Wimbledon.
TOUGHER DRAW
Third seed Roddick could not have been given a tougher draw, especially as the rangy Lopez had sharpened his game with a first-round win over Dmitry Tursunov.
Crowds enjoying a return to warmer conditions after Monday's early rain were treated to a serving exhibition as both men traded blows across the net.
Rallies were short but the sight of the lost art of volleying provided great entertainment.
Roddick struck first, cracking down an ace to take the first set tiebreak 7-2.
Lopez carved out a rare chance to break the Roddick serve, reaching 15-40 in the eighth game of the second set but failed to take his opportunity and another tiebreak beckoned.
This time it was Lopez who came out on top, winning it 7-5 with some deft touches around the net which had Roddick sprawling to the turf.
Roddick brushed himself down, however, and with impeccable timing he produced some brilliant returning as Lopez served at 4-5 in the decider.
A backhand winner flashed past Lopez to bring up two match points and although Lopez saved both with a beefy serve followed by a wrong-footing volley, Roddick pounded at the third attempt, forcing the Spaniard into a wild forehand error.
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