Aegon Championships: Lleyton Hewitt clears first hurdle at Queen's Club

Four-time champion Lleyton Hewitt eased past Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver in straight sets to book his place in the second round at the Queen's Club Aegon Championships.

The 33-year-old Australian could set a new all-time record if he rolls back the years to with a fifth Queen's title, and eased over the opening hurdle with a routine 6-3 6-3 victory.

Hewitt last won in Kensington in 2006 and shares the all-time record of four tournament victories with American Andy Roddick. He reached the semi-finals 12 months ago, before eventually being knocked out by Marin Cilic.

"I'd love to win a fifth title here," he said after his straight sets triumph. "That run I had last year was great. I felt like I got a lot of confidence out of that.

"That set me up for a good US summer and a good US Open, beating (Juan Martin) Del Potro there as well.

"I really love coming back to this tournament and playing well. I love coming here, I just love the surroundings.

"I felt pretty sharp out there, I've been hitting the ball well in practice, I felt good on the grass straight away."

"The last few years it hasn't taken me long to adapt after clay, I'm fortunate in that way, but I come in with a positive mindset as well."

Querrey progresses

Another former champion, Sam Querrey, also progressed but only after being given a real scare by 14th seed Jeremy Chardy.

American Querrey, who won at Queen's in 2010, powered down 31 aces as he came from behind to beat his French opponent 6-7 (4/7) 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/5).

Australian Bernard Tomic also came through a tough challenge, losing serve against American Tim Smyczek to fall behind 5-4 in the third set before sweeping the final three games to win 6-4 3-6 7-5.

It means Tomic has registered his first ATP main draw win in nearly five months; he will next face either Radek Stepanek or Mikhail Kukushkin.