Russia's Alisa Kleybanova will make an emotional return to tennis next month in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami after an eight-month battle with with cancer, she said Wednesday.
Former world No. 22 Kleybanova took leave from the sport in July on her 22nd birthday after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but has now received the all-clear.
“I finished my treatments in December and a couple of weeks ago I did my last tests in Italy. The treatments were successful, my doctors are happy with my health and I'm feeling great,” she said on the WTA website.
“I have started to train and right now I'm in Florida playing tennis again! It was physically really hard in the beginning, but it was so emotional that I didn't want to get off the court.
“This is just amazing, I'm working out every day now and enjoying it so much more than before!”
Kleybanova said she especially looked forward to competing again.
“I just got confirmed my main draw wildcard into the Miami tournament, so I will see you guys really soon! I don't think I have ever been more excited,” she said.
The women’s governing body welcomed her return.
“The WTA is even more excited and honored to see this fighter and champion return to competition,” the WTA said in a statement.
Kleybanova, was a rising star of Russian tennis before her illness, winning the Kuala Lumpur and Seoul tournaments in 2010, and collecting the last of five career doubles titles with fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Brisbane in 2011.
She also represented Russia in a Fed Cup tie against Serbia in 2010, and won gold in the women’s singles in the Universiade in Bangkok in 2007.
During her time away from the sport, the Moscow-born player has slipped to No. 167 in the rankings.
