Marin Cilic set for long-awaited comeback this week

Cilic suffered a serious knee injury in the first week of the season in January in Pune, underwent surgery and has been on the sidelines ever since.

Now the former world number three gets to return to the tour in the same place where it all began for him as a fresh-faced 16-year-old in 2005.

"It feels fantastic," the 34-year-old told atptour.com.

"Really positive feelings after more than six months of being away from the Tour. And to be back here in Umag is always special.

"This is the tournament where I started my ATP career back in 2005 and it's sort of now [come back full circle] to make this... comeback very positive. To do it again here is definitely a special feeling."

Cilic, who has slipped to 100 in the world rankings, comes in unseeded and faces Flavio Cobolli in the opening round on Monday night. 

Apart from making his ATP debut, there are fond memories for Cilic on the clay courts of Umag. In 2012, he defeated Marcel Granollers in straight sets for his eighth ATP Tour title.