Philippoussis Makes Successful Return; Roddick Up Next for Scud
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© Getty ImagesPhilippoussis will meet Andy Roddick in
the next round.
Australia's Mark Philippoussis made a successful return to action after a three-month absence, defeating Raemon Sluiter of the Netherlands in straight sets in the first round of the Stella Artois Championships.
Philippoussis, who has not played on the ATP circuit since suffering a left ankle injury at the NASDAQ-100 Open in March, took just 62 minutes to record a 6-4, 6-0 victory.
"It was the first match back after a while," said Philippoussis. "I think the key was just to come in there with just a positive mind and try and have a good start, keep on my toes. Obviously, I haven't played for a while, so I was just eager to be out there."
Philippoussis, whose INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking has slipped to No. 189, set up a mouthwatering second round meeting with two-time defending champion Andy Roddick, the No. 2 seed. This will be the first encounter between the two big-hitters.
Meanwhile, there was also good news for Britain's Jamie
Delgado, who defeated one teenage French prodigy in Gael
Monfils to set up a second round meeting with another in
Richard Gasquet.
Delgado, who received a wild card into The Queen's Club,
came through 6-2, 6-4 against Monfils, while Gasquet - making
his debut at the Stella Artois Championships - overcame
Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and Montenegro 6-1, 7-6(3) in
1 hour, 8 minutes.
Elsewhere in first round action, No. 9 seed Taylor Dent also made a successful comeback from an ankle injury as he defeated Germany's Tomas Behrend 6-4, 6-3. Dent, who like Philippoussis has not played since the NASDAQ-100 Open, but the American showed no signs of rustiness as he earned a second round meeting with Britain's Andrew Murray.