Gstaad (Switzerland): Viktor Troicki will make his return to tennis when his controversial one-year doping ban ends on Monday, with the Serb playing on a late wild card entry at the Swiss Open in Gstaad.
Troicki was awarded his wild card only hours before the weekend draw, with the 28-year-old set to put his career back on track as he starts in the first round against Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem.
Troicki drew his ban for delaying a mandatory blood test at Monte Carlo in April, 2013 by a day, saying he felt ill.
Despite having blood drawn a day later, he was banned for a year.
After reaching a career high of 12 in the world and helping Serbia win the Davis Cup in 2010, the 28-year-old Troicki is now ranked at 842 in the world.
“Honestly, it’s been a tough year,” Troicki, whose original 18-month ban was cut to 12 on appeal, said.
Troicki also praised the support of teammate and world number one Novak Djokovic with whom he practiced while he waited out his ban. (AFP)
