Top line-up confirmed for Thailand Open 2013; three former champs in the field

PRESS RELEASE

The Thailand Open 2013 will be a hotly-contested tournament with a packed line-up of tennis stars revealed for the prestigious event.

Four of the world’s top 11 players lead the field: World #2 and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, #6 Tomas Berdych, #10 Milos Raonic and defending champion world #11 Richard Gasquet head a list of potential winners.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to the Thailand Open this year,” said Murray. “I’ve enjoyed some really good results in Bangkok in the past including my first ever final back in 2005 and winning the event in 2011.

The Thailand Open field will include three former champions of the event with popular Frenchman World #17 Gilles Simon joining Murray and Gasquet as former winners hoping to repeat their success.

To lift the King’s Cup trophy in 2013 the marquee names will need to battle past some stiff competition, however. Other players confirming their participation in the tournament include #25 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, Bangkok favourite and Thailand Open 2010 runner up Jarkko Nieminen of Finland currently ranked #39, plus Australian prodigy #42 Bernard Tomic.

The tournament will also feature a mini “Spanish Armada” led by world #23 Tommy Robredo and #27 Feliciano Lopez, with #58 Daniel Gimeno-Traver and #66 Roberto Bautista Agut. Robredo, a former World #5 has enjoyed an amazing comeback from injury in 2013. His ranking dropped as low as #471 last year but he is enjoying a banner year including titles in Umag and Casablanca. The Spaniard has won a total of 12 ATP World Tour singles titles and will be making his first ever appearance at the Thailand Open. The popular Lopez last played in Bangkok in 2007 and is enjoying a successful year including winning the Eastbourne title and a finals appearance in Memphis.

The newest member of the world’s Top 10 Raonic is looking forward to returning to Bangkok. “Last year was my first visit to Thailand and it was fantastic. Before the tournament I spent a week training on Koh Samui and the island was so beautiful and the people so friendly. The Thailand Open was well-organised and a lot of fun,” said Raonic ahead of his return.

Adding further strength to the field are #43 Czech Lukas Rosol who famously dumped Nadal out of Wimbledon last year, world #35 Ivan Dodig of Croatia, Marinko Matosevic of Australia ranked #56, Dutchman Robin Haase ranked #62, and #60 Taiwan’s Yen-Hsun Lu who paired with Danai Udomchoke to lift the doubles trophy last year.

Thailand Open Executive Committee chairman Mr. Suwat Liptapanlop said that while the top seeds were amongst the very best in the world – four of the top 11 – no match would be easy.“Men’s tennis is so keenly contested; the top players cannot afford to let their concentration lapse in the early rounds. There are many extremely talented players competing this year,” he said. “There will be no easy matches.”

“There will be lots of top players competing so it will be exciting and I expect some tough matches,” said Youzhny, echoing Suwat’s comments.

In total, 13 countries are represented by players in the main draw of the tournament. Completing the international flavour of the event are world #63 Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan and #67 Lukasz Kubot of Poland, both making their first appearance at the tournament.

The Thailand Open singles main draw will feature 28 players – three wildcards will be announced before the event and an additional four players will enter the main draw via the tournament’s qualifying rounds.

The Thailand Open will be held from at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. A number of brand new ticket promotions offer ticket buyers more value and options than ever before.

For all the details contact any Thaiticketmajor outlet, log on to www.thaiticketmajor.com or call 02 262 3838.

Sharapova, Isner, Raonic, Lu: Walkabout in Paris

It's always nice to see players outside the tennis courts.

Let's take a look at what some of the players do when they are not playing or practicing.

Maria Sharapova wears sweatpants and tennis shoes as she arrives back to the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome hotel.

John Isner enjoys a day off with a visit to the Eiffel Tower.

Milos Raonic found the Canadian consulate in Paris.

 

Rendy Lu Yen-hsun was at the Japanese street in Paris.

(Images via Facebook pages, Zimbio.com)

Milos Raonic visits Lacoste club

Big hitter Milos Raonic was spotted at the Lacoste Club today.

The Canadian is seeded no. 19 in the French Open.

(Image via Lacoste Tennis' Twitter page)

Boys hangout in packs

 

Feliciano Lopez seems to be getting along quite well with fellow Wilson team mate Milos Raonic. They have been taking quite a number of pictures together and posted on the Facebook.

The boys are currently preparing for the French Open next week.

Meanwhile, Janko Tipsarevic took a picture with his fellow Serbian team mates over a drinking session. The Serbian team will face off with Germany at the World Team Cup today in Dusseldorf.

(Images via Feliciano Lopez and Janko Tipsarevic's Facebook Fan Pages)