Brazil's former world number one Gustavo Kuerten returns to competition in the $400,000 ATP event in Buenos Aires next week in his first outing since his Australian Open setback.
Kuerten, a three-time French Open champion, had to retire during the first round of the Melbourne event in January, the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, because of a right hip injury.
The muscles in his hip have been giving him problems ever since the Indian Wells event in last March.
The 25-year-old Kuerten now starts his defence of this clay court event in Buenos Aires against Argentina's Agustin Calleri.
Another Argentinian, Guillermo Canas, is the second seed while Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti, who was due to play in the final of the ATP event at Vina del Mar, Chile on Sunday, is seeded third.
Kuerten told the Brazilian press he was not fully fit and added he would need an operation. "This week will be a good test to see how my recovery is going," he said. "Whatever happens, I will have an operation at some time during the year." Bureau Report