The Asian Swing is about to begin – First out PTT Thailand Open

Written by: Global Chick on 18th September 2011

The Asian Swing is about to begin – First out PTT Thailand Open

Andy Murray of Great Britain hits a return to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their Semifinal round match on the thirteenth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 10 September 2011. The US Open has been extended due to weather for the fourth year in a row and the men's final will now be played on 12 September 2011. EPA/JASON SZENES |

The ATP Tour will commence the Asian Swing in Thailand at the PTT Thailand Open in Bangkok. The tournament will be held at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The main draw event starts on September 26. The qualifying event will begin on Saturday September 24.

The PTT Thailand Open started in 2003 and is a World Tour 250 event. Superstar Roger Federer is a two time champion. He won in 2005 and 2006. Also amongst the former champions are James Blake and Jo-Wifried Tsonga.

Last year’s winner Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain defeated Finn Jarkko Nieminen in the final. Garcia-Lopez will be back this year to try to defend his title. The doubles event was won by Christopher Kas and Viktor Troicki. They beat Jonathan Erlich and Jurgen Melzer in the final.

This year’s field will be lead by World No. 4 Andy Murray of Great Britain and the World No. 6 Robin Soderling of Sweden. The Swede has been sidelined by a wrist injury since the Skistar Swedish Open in July. He was due to play at the US Open in New York but he never made it on to the court due to a virus. The Swede said, “It will be a tough tournament with many top players competing but I enjoy the challenge and will be doing my best to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament.”

Gael Monfils the World No. 7 has also confirmed he will be playing in Bangkok. Frenchman Gilles Simon, who was the winner in 2009 said, “I had a great time in Bangkok in 2009 and was disappointed I couldn’t defend my title last year, so I am really happy I can return this year.”

Crowd favourite Feliciano Lopez of Spain will be a tough player to beat for the rest of the field. Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, last year’s runner up is happy to be back in Southeast Asia.

The tournament has announced two wild card recipients in the last week. Two of Thailand’s top men’s players Danai Udomchoke and Kittipong Wachiramanowong have been awarded main draw wildcards.

The 2011 PTT Thailand Open will continue their successful programme where the fans can receive a ticket for the tournament in exchange for unwanted tennis racquets. All racquets will be repaired and handed out to young kids to encourage them to take up the sport.