Murray and co will make it a great show

Although none of the "Big Three" - Novak Djokovic, Nafael Nadal and Roger Federer - is coming to town, Andy Murray, the world's fourth best, will surely be there. It was here in Thailand some six years ago that the young gun had given hints of his huge potential.

The then lanky teenager, with big curly hair, came out of nowhere to surprise everyone by reaching his first career final before losing to the defending champion, Federer. Some of his victims in the previous rounds were all familiar faces - Robin Soderling, the current world No 6 who is playing again this year, Robby Ginepri and among all Paradorn Srichaphan, whom he stopped in the semis.

In six years, Murray, who was born in Dunbane, Scotland, has grown into a well-built athlete with the stamina that allows him to chase down the ball on court all day. As one of the most relentless players on the tour and with an all-round game, Murray, 24, has bagged 18 career trophies in his collection and two Major runner-up titles - at the 2008 US Open and this year's Australian Open.

Since losing to Djokovic in Melbourne, the Scot had lost three straight matches in Rotterdam, then back-to-back Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami before getting his tempo back in time to reach the semi-finals in the last three Grand Slams. His other season highlights include a title at the Cincinnati Masters, where he handed the almost invincible Djokovic his second defeat of the year.

Having Murray as the top seed of this year's edition, the Thailand Open, therefore, cannot be dismissed as just another run-of-the-mill affair. It appears as if the attention of some of the tennis buffs is so limited to the world top three that they forget there are other players worth watching, like Soderling and the seventh-ranked Gael Monfils of France.

Unlike in 2005, the Swede has elevated himself to a much higher level. Anyone who witnessed his 2009 French Open fourth round fight against Nadal would still be aware of the threat the 27-year-old possesses. His explosive but risky forehand combined with rocket serves turned the "King of Clay" Nadal into a tamed cat. If he is free of injuries by the time he comes to Bangkok, we shall be entertained by his flashy game.

Monfils, despite his gangster-like looks, is a very friendly and colourful personality who knows how to draw cheers from fans on court. Just like Murray, the Frenchman has worked hard on his fitness and can run after shots like crazy. His Andy Roddick-style serve, his consistency and his power game, which he can summon at any time, will make him a strong contender in Bangkok, but it depends on whether he can maintain his sangfroid.

Are there any other players worth your time, driving from the heart of the city to the outskirts to see? Of course there are! The new kids on the block, like Grigor Dimitrov, the Bangkok Challenger champion last year who was dubbed as the "Baby Federer" and the ATP's "Justin Bieber"; Latvian bad boy Ernests Gulbis; former champions Gilles Simon and Guillermo-Garcia Lopez; and American rising star Donald Young.

So, let's give these fellows a chance. Stop by at the Impact Arena for a day or two or even more to support them and you will realise even guys outside the top three aren't so bad.