Kleybanova to return to tennis in Miami

 

Originally published on: 02/03/12 12:19

Alisa Kleybanova will return to tennis at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami after an eight-month battle with cancer.

The former world No.22 took indefinite leave from the sport in July – on her 22nd birthday – after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“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 told 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 was an emerging star of Russian tennis before her illness, winning in Kuala Lumpur and Seoul in 2010, and the world No.167 will bid to recover her ranking when she contests her first professional tournament since last July in Miami.

“The WTA is even more excited and honoured to see this fighter and champion return to competition,” the WTA said in a statement.Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last July, Russia’s Alisa Kleybanova will return to the tour at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami after an eight-month battle with cancer

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