Alisa Kleybanova has won her first match on return to tennis from treatment for cancer. The 248th-ranked Kleybanova, who received a wild card entry into the tournament, dropped the first set to Johanna Larsson of Sweden before rebounding to secure a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory at Key Biscayne on Tuesday. Kleybanova was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma last May and it has been 10 months since the 22-year-old Russian played a professional match. “I'm really happy I won the match, but I really enjoyed playing,” Kleybanova said. “It's not like if I didn't win it today I would be all mad. Just to feel again all those emotions was really great and something I missed the most from tennis.” Kleybanova, who will play fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko in the second round, looked rusty in the first set. But she picked up her play to take care of the 64th-ranked Larsson. “It's amazing but it's not just about the win,” she said. Tuesday's schedule only featured 12 women's first-round matches. Heather Watson of Great Britain, another wildcard recipient, won a tough 6-3, 3-, 7-6 (4) winner over Sorana Cirstea of Romania. Ekaterina Makarova of Russia, the player who upset Serena Williams at this year's Australian Open, outlasted Jelena Dokic 6-1, 7-5. Mona Barthel of Germany defeated Greta Arn of Hungary 6-1, 6-0.
