(REUTERS) - Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka marked her return to the WTA Tour by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against Japan's Risa Ozaki at the Mallorca Open on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old, who gave birth to son Leo in December and had not played a competitive match since last year's French Open, saved three match points to win 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7).

World No. 74 Ozaki had actually been two breaks ahead in the third set and was serving at 5-4 when darkness descended on the Santa Ponsa lawns on Tuesday.

On the resumption Azarenka broke serve but immediately dropped her own before Ozaki moved 40-0 ahead to move to within a point of a victory.

But the Belarusian, showing her trademark grit, clawed her way back from the brink and despite trailing 3-5 in the tie-break sealed a remarkable victory with a backhand winner.