Gustavo Kuerten returned from a seven-month injury lay-off with a victory over Belgian Olivier Rochus in the first round of the Valencia Open.
The three-time French Open champion, who underwent surgery on his right hip last September, won 6-2 6-4.
The 28-year-old Kuerten is desperate to recover full fitness in time for Roland Garros at the end of May.
After Valencia, the Brazilian will continue his comeback at the Monte Carlo Masters, Rome and Hamburg.
"I felt very good - the shots came naturally, as if I had already played several matches," Kuerten told the Spanish news agency Efe.
"It was a very important match for me.
"I think it will be possible to be up there with the best, but that isn't something that is always in my head now. It's a long-term goal."
The highlight of the first round will be the all-Spanish showdown between Rafael Nadal and Juan Carlos Ferrero on Wednesday, the first time the two players have met in competition.
Nadal came close to ending Roger Federer's record of 17 straight final victories in the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami on Sunday but eventually lost in five sets.
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