Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro made a winning return to the men’s tour as he cleared his first-round hurdle at the Apia International Sydney 2015 – his first win in the last 10 months.

The Argentine giant needed just one hour and 21 minutes to brush aside Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3 7-6 in at the Ken Rosewall Arena on Tuesday.

“It was a great moment for me,” an ecstatic Del Potro was quoted as per saying by the ATP World Tour. “I think I played well in my first match after 10 months.

“I served well. My forehand is still working out. So that’s a good signal for the future. I need to work very hard to my backhands and my movements.

“But I think now is time to think about my comeback and enjoy this moment a lot.”

Up next, Del Potro is scheduled to meet top seed Fabio Fognini of Italy in the second round.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

(W) JMD Potro d. S Stakhovsky (6-3, 7-6)

(Q) M Kukushkin d. D Istomin (6-3, 7-6)

V Pospisil d. A Seppi (6-3, 7-6)

(7) J Chardy d. S Querrey (6-4, 6-4)

G Muller d. (W) S Groth (3-6, 6-3, 7-6)

B Tomic d. (Q) I Sijsling (6-1, 6-2)

(Q) V Troicki d. (8) M Klizan (6-2, 6-3)

P Andujar d. (Q) J Nieminen (6-2, 6-2)

(Image: LiveTennis.com)