Murray set for Bangkok

Newly crowned Wimbledon champion Andy Murray says he will return to Bangkok for the fourth time in a bid to reclaim the Thailand Open title.

The world No 2, who this month became the first British men’s singles winner at the All England Club in 77 years, has been confirmed for the US$631,500 ATP event from September 21-29 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The tournament will also feature world No 6 Tomas Berdych from the Czech Republic and defending champion Richard Gasquet, the ninth ranked Frenchman.

 Murray has produced solid results in the capital, reaching the final in 2005 in his ATP debut and then triumphing in 2011 before going on to complete an Asian tour hat-trick by winning in Tokyo and Shanghai in following weeks.

“I wasn’t able to come and defend my title last year so it will be great to be back this year. I look forward to seeing all the fans again,” said Murray, who beat world No 1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets on London’s lawn for his second Grand Slam title after the 2012 US Open. 

Murray had already been secured for Thailand when he made his historic Wimbledon breakthrough, said Suwat Liptapanlop, executive committee chairman of the Thailand Open. He said the Scot’s pledge was like winning a lottery, after Thai tennis officials had bent over backwards to lure superstars to swing their racquets in September.

“Roger Federer’s fortunes are on the downswing and Rafael Nadal has been plagued with injuries, so we were gauging who we should sign between Novak Djokovic and Murray. Because of his wins in the Olympics, then the US Open and reaching the Australian Open final, we went for Murray. Then, all of a sudden he won Wimbledon,’’ said Suwat who added that things could have been more difficult if his team had approached Murray after the All-England Club Championships.

Also confirmed for the Bangkok tournament are Canadian rising star and world No 13 Milos Raonic and popular Russian Mikhail Youzhny, who will be making his first appearance in Thailand.

Berdych has been in the world top 10 for four years now. He last played the Thailand Open in 2008, when he was beaten in the semi-finals by Djokovic.

 Since winning the Thailand Open last year, Frenchman Gasquet has enjoyed the most successful period of his career. 

“It was very special for me to win the Thailand Open last year in my first attempt,” said Gasquet, who went on to win in Doha and Montpelier, as well as reaching the semi-finals in Basel, Halle and the Miami Masters 1000. “It’s going to be another strong field at the tournament this year and I will be doing my very best to defend my title,” he said.

Big-serving Raonic is the youngest player ranked in the world top 20 and is poised to become the next superstar of men’s tennis. Raonic possesses one of the most explosive forehands in the game and has recorded the third-fastest serve of all time. Earlier this year he won at San Jose for the third consecutive year. “I’m glad to be coming back to the Thailand Open and am determined to do well this year,” he said. 

Tickets for the Thailand Open start at Bt300 and go on sale at ThaiTicketMajor outlets from tomorrow, with early-bird promotional offers until August 4. 

Call (02) 262 3838 or visit www.ThailandOpen.org or www.Thaiticketmajor.com.