Five-set Roddick claims second round spot

Paris:

American sixth seed Andy Roddick reached the French Open second round with a 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 win over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.

The former world number one will face either Eduardo Schwank of Argentina or Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic for a place in the last 32.

Roddick, who achieved his best performance here last year when he reached the last 16, came into the French Open desperately under-prepared having opted to skip the entire claycourt season for what he described as "personal reasons".

After the American claimed the first set, the wily 28-year-old Nieminen came roaring back in the next two before again handing the initiative to the American in the fourth set tiebreak.

The Finnish left-hander had a break point in the third game of the decider which Roddick saved.

Roddick broke to lead 3-2 and claimed the match on a second match point in the ninth game when Nieminen served up a double fault.