Andy Roddick: Why He Must Play Well at Aegon Championships 2011

Andy Roddick returned to the court today for the first time since announcing his withdrawal from the French Open.

The Aegon Championships in London was the stage, and the world No. 10 started his campaign with a tough second round match against Feliciano Lopez.

At a tournament in which Roddick has won four times, the American has spoken of his delight to be back on grass. He was made to fight for a 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 win over Lopez, but the American will be pleased to have beaten a player whose game suits the grass.

Having not played a lot of tennis over the past two months, it is important for Roddick to at least make it to the semifinals at the Aegon Championships.

Early exits in Miami, Madrid and Rome, and the withdrawal from the French Open due to a shoulder injury have left the American with a lack of match practice.

Although he has never performed well in Paris, a run of three or four wins would have been helpful preparation for the grass. However, Roddick's decision to pull out of the French Open was the correct one.

The next four weeks in England are now crucial for the rest of his year and for improving his ranking.

Wimbledon has been a successful grand slam for Roddick, and one that suits his style of play. The American has said that he doesn't have to change a lot for the grass court season, but he must play well at the Aegon Championships to go into Wimbledon with any realistic chance of challenging.

Predicting that Roddick can challenge at Wimbledon is a bold statement in itself. Roddick is not on the same level as Nadal, Federer and Djokovic, but he has the game—especially on grass—to at least give them a run for their money.