Of the outlandish sights that are ten a penny in these parts, that of Andy Murray being put through his paces by the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders yesterday was an eye-rubber. The British No1 has got guts, that one cannot deny.

Today, hopefully without any pompons for adornment, he will take to the court at Crandon Park for a second-round match at the Sony Ericsson Open against Mario Ancic, the Croat, whose return to the forefront of the professional game is another appealing sight for sore eyes.

It was only five months ago that Ancic was struggling to put one foot in front of the other for any sustained period. The ravages of glandular fever, that had confined him to bed, sometimes for 18 hours a day, and the lingering weakness from thyroid and stomach problems on top of a shoulder injury, meant that he could only imagine what it would be like to compete properly again.

The 6ft 5in powerhouse, who will be 24 tomorrow, was in the world's top ten in 2006, when he reached the quarter-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon. Two years previously, he had reached the semi-finals in SW19, beating Tim Henman on the way, and everything looked rosy.

The flu-like symptoms emerged in February last year and, after retreating to his home in Split, an extreme case of glandular fever was diagnosed. “I remember that the weather was beautiful outside and yet I could only walk for 15 minutes and then I had to go back to bed,” Ancic said, after a three-set victory over Gilles Simon, of France, set him up for the second-round date with Murray.

“My liver was messed up, my whole immune system was weakened, I had a fever every day of 38 degrees. All I could eat was soup or small salads, my muscles had wasted away. I completely lost everything, really.

“Then I was able to walk, for 15 minutes, then 30, then 45; then the doctors told me I could run twice a week. That was only five months ago.”

Ancic accompanied the Croatia Davis Cup team to Wimbledon last September, “just to feel the grass again”. From No 136 in the world at the start of the year, Ancic has risen to No 63 and has every intention of returning to the highest echelons. “Just being here is a big joy and what has happened has made me stronger and more appreciative,” he said.

Ancic has shared his story with Roger Federer, the world No 1 from Switzerland, and Justine Henin, the Belgian, who have had lighter strains of the virus. “Whatever they need I can help,” Ancic said. “I know more about glandular fever than most doctors.”

Murray and Ancic have met twice before, the Briton winning in the final in Marseilles last month, with Ancic the victor in Auckland in 2006.