• Sydney International

Del Potro wins after 10-month injury lay-off

Juan Martin del Potro has missed more than 10 months on tour © Getty Images

Enlarge

Juan Martin del Potro launched his comeback from a serious wrist injury with a convincing 6-3 7-6(4) win over Sergiy Stakhovsky in the first round of the Sydney International on Tuesday.

The former US Open champion is ranked No.338 after undergoing surgery on his left wrist last year and missing more than 10 months on tour.

He was granted a wild card to enter the main draw in Sydney, where he's the defending champion, but appeared to be fit and sharp in beating world No.69 Stakhovsky in 88 minutes. He will face top seed Fabio Fognini in the second round.

"These guys are playing all year. It's time to get back on the train again," Del Potro said. "This tournament is very special to me."

It was Del Potro's second extended lay-off with a wrist injury. After capturing his only grand slam title at the 2009 US Open, he underwent surgery on his right wrist and was sidelined for eight months.

Bernard Tomic, the 2014 Sydney finalist, needed only 43 minutes to beat Igor Sijsling 6-1 6-2.

In other men's first-round matches, Jeremy Chardy sealed a 6-4 6-4 win over Sam Querrey, Vasek Pospisil beat Andreas Seppi 6-3 7-6(4) and Viktor Troicki ousted Martin Klizan 6-2 6-3.

In women's second-round matches, Petra Kvitova secured a 6-1 7-5 win over Peng Shuai on a day when top seed Simona Halep withdrew from the tournament due to gastroenteritis.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza ousted Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2, and her compatriot Carla Suarez Navarro beat Ekaterina Makarova 4-6 6-1 6-4.

Dominika Cibulkova, the Australian Open finalist last year, was up a set and a break before losing momentum after a rain delay in her match against Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova, who came back to win 1-6 6-3 6-4.

Tsvetana Pironkova progressed when Madison Keys retired from their match when trailing 4-1 in the second set.

Barbora Zhalavova-Strycova ousted local hope and former US Open champion Samantha Stosur 7-6(1) 6-2.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd