American Andy Roddick began his bid for a record fifth title at Queen's Club on Tuesday by defeating Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-4.

The third seed survived a barrage of 35 aces and claimed victory on his third match point after battling for two hours and 13 minutes.

"I love it on grass and am so happy to be back on it," said Roddick, who missed the French Open with a shoulder injury.

There was little to separate the two players, with Roddick holding the slightest of advantages in the opening set as he earned a break point in the sixth game and surrendered just six points on serve before dominating the tiebreaker.

Roddick then fought off two break points to hold for 4-4 in the second set, but Lopez went on to level the match by edging the tiebreaker and then broke to lead 2-1 in the final set.

But Roddick leveled at 3-3 and broke his opponent in the final game to seal the win.

Defending champion Sam Querrey also advanced into the third round with a 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-3 win over Germany's Rainer Schuettler.

Querrey next plays British wild card James Ward, who upset fourth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 7-6(3), 6-3.

12th-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro overcame an injury scare as he claimed a 6-4, 6-2 win over Uzbek Denis Istomin.

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal will face Matthew Ebden in his opening match on Wednesday after the Australian qualifier defeated India's Somdev Devvarman 7-5, 6-3.

Second-seeded Andy Murray faces 2002 Wimbledon semifinalist Xavier Malisse, who defeated Matthias Bachinger 6-4, 6-4.