Emma Raducanu said she is "grateful to be healthy" again after winning her first match following eight months out with injury at the Auckland Classic.
The Briton, playing for the first time since wrist and ankle surgeries, fought through a tense deciding set to beat world number 134 Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
She let slip a 5-2 lead in the third set and missed two match points at 5-3 before eventually winning 6-3 4-6 7-5.
"It's pretty amazing to just be out here and playing," Raducanu, 21, said.
"I'm just really happy to be back on the tour and can't wait to start this season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy.