Roddick Taken The Distance; Ferrero Untroubled

© Getty ImagesAndy Roddick played on Court Philippe Chatrier for the first time since 2005.

Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick rallied from two-sets-to-one down Tuesday as he battled past Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in a thrilling first-round encounter at Roland Garros.

The American was contesting his first tournament since winning the Sony Ericsson Open in early April and narrowly avoided a fifth first-round exit at Roland Garros.

Roddick looked to be on his way to a comfortable win after assuming a one-set lead, but Nieminen fought back with one break of the famed Roddick serve in each of the second and third sets to establish a two-sets-to-one lead.

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The sixth-seeded Roddick squandered a set point in the 12th game of the fourth set, but was not to be denied in the tie-break as he prevailed to force a deciding set. The 28-year-old Nieminen had the chance to break Roddick’s serve in the fourth game of the fifth set, but could not convert and Roddick immediately made him pay as great defensive play from the American earned him a 3-2 lead. He then broke serve again in the ninth game as Nieminen double faulted to surrender the match after three hours and 19 minutes.   

Playing on Court Philippe Chatrier for the first time since a first-round victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2005, it was the 27-year-old Roddick’s first five-set win at Roland Garros since defeating Michael Chang in the second round on his 2001 debut. After hitting 19 aces and 56 winners, he improved his career record at Roland Garros to 8-8, with his best result coming last year when he reached the fourth round (l. to Monfils).

"There was a lot of ugliness out there today. But at the end of it, I get to play again," said Roddick. "So that's that's all you go into a day hoping to do, and I got through today.

"After Madrid (where he withdrew ill), I did pretty much everything I could to be prepared here. But I didn't play my best today, and I definitely wasn't match tough. I've been saying all week if I can get through the first one or the second one, then maybe I will start hitting my stride and playing a little bit better. But it's just a matter of surviving to advance. Today I guess I found a way to get through it."

Roddick next will face Slovenian Blaz Kavcic, who advanced when Argentine Eduardo Schwank retired with heat stroke when trailing 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 4-0.

Former Roland Garros champion Juan Carlos Ferrero cruised past Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 to open his campaign. The No. 16 seed reached the final in 2002 (l. to Costa) before lifting the trophy a year later with victory over Martin Verkerk. A two-time winner on the ATP World Tour this season, he next will face fellow Spaniard Pere Riba, who defeated Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(5).

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German No. 30 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber overcame a testing first set before prevailing 7-6(7), 6-1, 6-1 against Slovakian Karol Beck. The 26-year-old Kohlschreiber stunned then-World No. 4 Novak Djokovic en route to the Roland Garros fourth round last year.

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