( CNN ) -- A tennis player 's biggest challenge usually comes from the opposite baseline , but Alisa Kleybanova has taken on an opponent of an entirely different nature over the last 10 months . The former world No . 20 announced in July 2011 she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin 's Lymphoma , a form of cancer , after missing both the French Open and Wimbledon . The 22-year-old Russian made a successful return to the court at the Miami Masters on Tuesday after battling to overcome the disease . It was a fairytale return for Kleybanova , who was handed a wildcard for the U.S. hard-court tournament , as she came from behind to record a 2-6 6-3 6-2 first-round win against 64th-ranked Swede Johanna Larsson.. Venus Williams vows to rise again . `` The first match back from anything is always difficult , but especially this time I really had no idea how it was going to be out there , '' Kleybanova told the WTA 's official website . `` Tennis-wise I felt pretty good from the beginning but Johanna has a difficult game to play against , she makes you run a lot out there -- she makes you tired even if you 're in your best shape . '' Kleybanova , who will face 20th-seeded compatriot Maria Kirilenko next , said fighting the illness has given her a different perspective on the sport . `` I 'm looking at my matches differently now , '' she said . `` It 's my work , but I really just wanted to enjoy every point and every moment . `` Even when I lost the first set I wanted to stay positive and just enjoy myself out there , and that 's why I was able to stay out there and change the way the match was going . `` It 's not just about the win though , it 's that I 'm back on court . If I did n't win , it 's not like I would have been mad . I was just happy to be playing points , feeling all the emotions again ... it 's something I missed a lot and it was all out there today . '' It was also a memorable occasion for Kleybanova 's coach Julian Vespan , who she described as her `` best friend . '' `` Of course he 's very , very happy I won , but he 's also my best friend and he feels happy when I feel good and when I 'm smiling . He just wants me to be happy . When he saw me enjoying myself again he was very happy for me . ''
Johanna Larsson wins on her return to tennis at the Miami Masters . The French had been out for 10 months battling Hodgkin 's Lymphoma . The 22-year-old battles to a three -set victory over Sweden 's world No . 64 Alisa Kleybanova . Kleybanova has won two Kleybanova titles during 10 months on the circuit .