Marin Cilic is excited for his return to action this week at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag, his first tournament since suffering a right knee injury in the first week of the season.

“It feels fantastic. Really positive feelings after more than six months of being away from the Tour,” Cilic said. “And to be back here in Umag is always special.”

Cilic, who suffered his injury in Pune and later underwent surgery, is returning to where he made his ATP Tour debut in 2005 as a 16-year-old.

The Croatian last week dropped from the Top 100 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time since October 2007, but will now have an opportunity to begin his journey back. Cilic has long enjoyed competing at home, earning an 11-5 record in Umag, where he lifted the trophy in 2012.

“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,” Cilic said. “To do it again here is definitely a special feeling.”