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London - Spain's Feliciano Lopez defeated Dmitry Tursunov 7-6, 6-3 at Queen's on Monday to set up a second round clash with four-time champion Andy Roddick.
Lopez enjoyed a shock quarter-final win over world No 1 Rafael Nadal during an impressive run to the semi-finals here last year and the clay-court specialist again had little problem adapting to the lush lawns of west London.
After rain delayed the start of the annual Wimbledon warm-up event by over an hour, Lopez, ranked 41 in the world, had to save three set points as Tursunov pushed for the opening break at 4-5 in the first set.
Lopez then made Tursunov pay for those missed opportunities as he broke in the next game for a 6-5 lead.
Tursunov has decent pedigree on grass - he won the Eastbourne event in 2009 - and the big-serving Russian recovered his equilibrium quickly to break back as Lopez served for the set.
Despite that blow, Lopez was still able to take the set as he won a tightly contested tie-break 7-4.
Lopez took complete control in the second set and got the crucial break in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead before serving out the match.
The Spaniard's next test should be significantly tougher as he faces former Wimbledon finalist Roddick, with the American hoping to win a record fifth Queen's title this year.
Although Andy Murray's participation in the tournament is still uncertain as he tests out the ankle he injured in the French Open, Britain will have some home interest in the second round after James Ward beat Daniel Cox 6-3, 6-1 in a battle of two English wildcards.
Ward will play Swiss fourth seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round.
British No 1 Murray is one of the eight top seeds to receive a bye into the second round and he was due to practise at Queen's later on Monday before deciding whether to compete in the event he won in 2009.
Nadal, the top seed at Queen's, was also due on the club's practice courts on Monday just 24 hours after beating Roger Federer in the French Open final in Paris to seal his record-equalling sixth triumph at Roland Garros.
