A Ryan Nelson header cancelled out James McCarthy's 20th-minute strike to ensure that Wigan and Queens Park Rangers went into the break locked at 1-1.
Rob Green was the first keeper to be seriously tested when David Jones fired in a well-worked free kick that the former England number one had to palm over.
The hosts took the lead in the 20th minute courtesy of a fine James McCarthy volley past a fully stretched Green.
QPR weren't behind for long, however, as Nelson latched on to Adel Taarabt's corner, powering a header past a helpless Ali Al Habsi just five minutes after they had gone behind.
Wigan almost responded just as quickly after a defensive mix-up allowed Franco Di Santo in, but the striker missed the target from point blank range.
