Juan Martin del Potro is set to start another comeback from wrist surgery at Delray Beach.
Del Potro, a former U.S. Open champion, will play Denis Kudla in the first round.
"It's great to be at a tournament again and get the backing [of the crowds]," he told La Nacion. "It was giving me the energy ... to keep carrying through with my recuperation."
Del Potro returned from a left-wrist injury in 2015, but experienced problems hitting his backhand and was sidelined again.
But now, he says, "I'm in condition to make this step."
The Argentinian received a wild card into Delray Beach, and said that winning his match isn't his first objective.
"The goal is to complete the first match, get back to the hotel, and say that I'm in the condition to practice again," he said. “To again play a match in a stadium, with people coming to watch, and my friends ... that is a win.''
During his layoff, he stopped working with longtime coach Franco Davin. Davin has since begun working with Grigor Dimtrov.
Del Potro has not announced another coach.