Denis Shapovalov has made a winning return from injury.
The Canadian downed Switzerland's Remy Bertola 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round of the Swiss Indoors on Wednesday.
It was Shapovalov's first match since he retired from a Japan Open quarterfinal against Carlos Alcaraz with a hip injury.
Shapovalov has been sidelined by several injuries this season.
On Wednesday, Shapovalov won 25 of 28 points when he got his first serve in against the world No. 236.
The 27-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., had six aces while winning 80 per cent of his service points.
Shapovalov clinched the match with five straight wins in the second set.
He broke Bertola four times on nine chances while saving one of the two break points he faced.
Shapovalov, who entered the ATP 500 tournament ranked 52nd in the world, will next face sixth-seeded American Taylor Fritz, who defeated Australian lucky loser Rinky Hijikata in straight sets.
Montreal's Félix Auger-Aliassime won the title in Basel in 2022 and 2023.
— With files from The Canadian Press
