Tipsarevic makes triumphant return in Houston

HOUSTON - Serbian tennis player Janko Tipsarevic had a successful start at the Houston Open, scoring a hard-fought win over Guilherme Clezar of Brazil 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7) late on Tuesday CET.

This was the first ATP singles match for Tipsarevic after a long layoff due to a foot injury. The former world No. 8 was unable to compete since October 2013 and his comeback was postponed several times.

He made his long-awaited return ten days ago in Miami where he teamed up with fellow Serb Novak Djokovic in the doubles competition and lost to the Swedish-Austrian pairing of Robert Lindstedt/Jurgen Melzer in the first round.

The win in Houston over Clezar, the current world No. 186, is a good sign that the thirty-year old Tipsarevic, who has so far won four ATP titles, is ready to climb up the world tennis rankings again.

Tipsarevic next faces Colombia's Santiago Giraldo, who defeated Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva in straight sets (6-2, 6-2).

Photo Tanjug, M. Jelesijevic (archive)