Janko Tiparevic makes triumphant return to ATP tour after over 500 days out
Thursday 9 April 2015 15:30, UK
Janko Tipsarevic made a triumphant return to the ATP Tour by beating qualifier Guilherme Clezar 6-4 3-6 7-6 (9-7) in the first round of the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston.
Tipsarevic saved two match points in the deciding tie-break in his first match in more than 500 days following two operations to get rid of two tumours on his left foot which nearly ended his career.
Doctors still cannot assure Tipsarevic, who needed two hours, 38 minutes to beat Clezar, that another tumour will not grow back in the same spot as the other two.
If it does, he will have to retire as a third operation is not possible.
"My life would not be in danger," he said, "but I could not play tennis again. Basically (the second surgery) took away about 80 percent of my sole. That's why it took so long (to return)."
Tipsarevic prepared for his comeback by playing a doubles match in Miami last week with his fellow countryman, Novak Djokovic, as his partner. It was world No 1’s idea.
"I would never have asked," Tipsarevic said.
Djokovic, who also went on to win the singles title in Miami, tweeted that he was watching the Tipsarevic match online and wished him good luck.
Defending champion Fernando Verdasco from Spain, the sixth seed, moved on when Paolo Lorenzi of Italy retired with a leg injury in the second set.
Other first-round winners were Jeremy Chardy of France, Americans Steve Johnson and Jack Sock, Santiago Giraldo of Colombia, Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia and the 18-year-old South Korean Chung Hyeon.
