SCHWIEBERDINGEN, January 11, 2016

Hard hitting Frenchman Albano Olivetti has returned to the tennis tour playing his first matches of the qualifying at the $10,000 ITF Future Südwestbank Tennis Grand Prix in Schwieberdingen on Sunday. The 24-year-old from Haguenau had been sidelined from the courts since June 2014.

Olivetti, with a height of 203 cm is well known for his crashing serves and a fearless attacking game, won his opening match on the carpet in Germany against Aliaksandr Prudnikau 6-3, 6-0, as well as his second round encounter against Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-2.

The former world number 161 attracted attention to the tennis world during the Open 13 ATP 250 tournament in Marseille in 2012, when he beat Matthias Bachinger and world number 8 Mardy Fish to reach the quarterfinals as a qualifier, eventually losing to Michael Llodra in straight sets. Later that year, he clinched his second ITF Future title, winning the grass court tournament in Manchester. 2012 was also the year, he came to Schwieberdingen the last time, lifting the doubles trophy together with Elie Rousset.

He continued with good performances and decent results, climbing up the rankings before the injury. Olivetti had a car accident and had to undergo surgery due to cervical hernia. His last tournament was Wimbledon 2014, where he lost to Marsel Ilhan in the first round of the qualfication. Since then, he has started to play unofficial events being ready again to start from rock bottom.

The Frenchman is currently unranked and will continue his comeback on the ITF Pro Circuit the week after Schwieberdingen, probably receiving a wild card into the $10,000 Future event in Bressuire. In 2015 this tournament was won by Benoit Paire, who finished the season inside on 19th position. Good omen.