LONDON — Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka made light work of Britain's Cameron Norrie in the opening round of the Queen's Club grasscourt tournament Monday, winning 6-2, 6-3.

The 33-year-old Swiss, ranked 261 in the world after two knee surgeries, served solidly throughout a one-sided contest on the slick center court, easing past an opponent who struggled to cope with Wawrinka's power.

Wawrinka needed just shy of half an hour to pocket the opener, breaking twice, and was hardly troubled in the second set as he set up a second round match against American fifth seed Sam Querrey who beat British wildcard Jay Clarke 6-3, 6-3.

"In general (the knee) has been improving week after week," Wawrinka, beaten in the first round of the French Open, said. "Now I feel really good on court, strong physically.”

Top seed Marin Cilic, runner-up at Wimbledon last year to Roger Federer, looked razor sharp as he came through a potentially tricky opener against Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

The 29-year-old Croat, champion at Queen's in 2012, lost only four points on serve during a 6-3, 6-4 victory — his fourth in succession against Verdasco.

He will face Luxembourg's grasscourt dangerman Gilles Muller next after he beat exciting Canadian shot-maker Denis Shapovalov 7-6(7), 7-6(6) in the day's opening contest.

Shapovalov was left to rue his failure to convert a set point in the opener as he bowed out against the man who ended Rafael Nadal's Wimbledon hopes last year.

Double Wimbledon champion Andy Murray makes his return after nearly a year out with a hip injury Tuesday when he will face Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first round.

Nishikori Prevails

Japan's Kei Nishikori had to fight through a tiebreaker to start his grass season with a win Monday as he beat Matthias Bachinger in the ATP Halle tournament.

The seventh seed who has twice played semi-finals at the event, worked for just under 90 minutes to beat his 159th-ranked German opponent 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) and reach the second round.

Nishikori, a former top 10 regular now ranked 27th after wrist injuries last season, was joined in the second round by fourth seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, who beat the second German on the day, putting out Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-1.

Dutchman Robin Haase provided early drama with his 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 comeback victory over Portugal's Joao Sousa. — Agencies