Murray makes winning start at Queen's

Andy Murray launched his Wimbledon preparations with a three-set victory over Xavier Malisse at the AEGON Championships.

The British number one booked a meeting with Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in the third round at Queen's Club after beating Malisse 6-3 5-7 6-3.

Murray took the court with his right ankle heavily strapped after suffering tendon damage during his run to the French Open semi-final.

Malisse barely tested Murray in the opening games, as the world number four claimed an early break and raced into a 3-0 lead before rain stopped play.

The match resumed with Murray serving at 3-1 and 15-15 but a long forehand and a volley into the net gifted Malisse two break points his sloppy start hardly deserved.

Murray responded with an ace, forced the game to deuce and held his serve when Malisse planted the ball into the net, ending the longest rally of the match so far.

Murray went on to clinch the first set 6-3 and started the second strongly, with a fierce forehand taking him to 0-30 on Malisse's serve.

But the Belgian recovered to go 2-1 up and began to grow into the contest as the set wore on. He was volleying well and fired down a pair of aces to edge into a 5-4 lead.

Murray worked himself two break points at 5-5 but Malisse saved them both, the first with a powerful forehand winner down the line.

It was a wasted opportunity from Murray and Malisse capitalised, working himself two break points and forcing the match into a deciding set.

But Murray, who had not lost to Malisse in three previous meetings on the senior tour, responded positively after that second-set wobble.

Murray held his own serve with two aces and then clinched a decisive break to go 3-1 up as Malisse sent a forehand long.

Murray had to dig in to save two break points at 3-2 but he did so and then broke Malisse again to seal the victory.