Tipsarevic was once ranked as high as no. 8 in the world (photo: tennisplanet.me)

After a 17-month layoff due to multiple injuries, Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic is slated to return on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour at this week’s Sony Open Tennis in Miami.

Once ranked as high as number 8 in the world rankings, Tipsarevic was sidelined with a foot injury, and consequently had to go under the knife. Besides, the Serb was also hot and bothered by Pneumonia, which further extended his truancy from the ATP Tour.

Now in a healthy shape, Tipsarevic will check his physical and psychological preparations when he makes his return on the tour in Miami, partnering countryman and top-ranked singles player Novak Djokovic in the doubles event.

The duo has been scheduled to square off against the Swedish-Austrian combination of Robert Lindstedt and Jurgen Melzer in the opening round of the Masters event.

Relishing his return to the professional circuit, an ecstatic Tipsarevic wrote on his official Instagram account: “17 months since I saw my name in a tennis tournament draw… Its been a long time coming (sic).”