By Martyn Herman
Roddick said the 29-year-old's return was not only good for American tennis but vital for the women's game.
"Well, it's great that she's back," Roddick told reporters after beating Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4 in the third round of the Queen's Club tournament on Thursday.
"I mean, I think, no disrespect to any of the women that are playing right now, but I think women's tennis needs that dominating figure.
"She hasn't played for a year but I think she still is that personality and, you know, she's certainly going to probably be the top storyline going into Wimbledon."
Since cutting her foot on broken glass in Munich last year, an injury that required surgery to a lacerated tendon, and then suffering life-threatening blood clots in February, Serena's presence has been missed on the WTA Tour.
Her return will help raise its profile, Roddick said.
"I think I speak for most people in tennis whereas you want her in the game for so many reasons; not only because she wins and she's a great champion, but she brings pop culture to tennis," he said.
"She brings crossover appeal and creates storylines even when she's not trying which, at the end of the day, is a healthy thing for our sport."
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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