Great News for local tennis fans and enthusiasts in this region. The current world's number 2 and number 3 players Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick will play in this year’s Thailand Open South East Asia's premier tennis event held at Bangkok's massive Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani. With the likes of Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke who have already confirmed their attendance this year’s Thailand Open promises to pull in more fans to witness this premier event in South East Asia. Brit Andy Murray has already signed up but it is not known whether the defending champion James Blake of USA will return to defend his crown. More information about Nadal and Roddick playing in the Thailand Open found here.

My greatest question is whether the Swiss master will return this year. Roger Federer the 2004 and 2005 Thailand Open champion pulled out last year to defend Swiss pride as Switzerland had to play the Davis Cup World Group playoff to remain in the World Group. Federer did just that by keeping Switzerland in the World Group. It is no secret that Roger likes to come to Asia to play and he has constantly said on several occasions that if his schedule permits he will like to come to Asia to play hopefully he returns this year to contest of the Thailand Open 2007 crown.

I am however both thrilled and relieved that the Thailand Open organizers have managed to attract big names like Rafael Nadal as well as Andy Roddick. A Rod was the losing finalist in 2004 against Roger Federer and I am sure that he would like to go one up this time to capture the South East Asian tennis crown in Thailand. This will be the first outing for 2 time Roland Garros champion and current world's number 2 Rafael Nadal to the Far East.

I foresee The "Spanish Bull" to be a major crowd puller to this event and have many fans here in Asia. His presence will be just as good or maybe even better as having Roger Federer around. In my review of last year's 2006 Thailand Open, I noted that although the Thailand Open organizers managed to bring in some bigger names Roger Federer was a missing and it showed by the drop in attendance and fan fare.

Nadal's participation this year will be a huge affair considering his popularity here in Asia will bring in record crowds. It will be nice if Federer decides to contest for the Thailand Open crown this year and the possibility of having to see a repeat of the 2004 finals the World's number one and number two players playing in Asia to a huge sellout crowd. I however would like to congratulate the Thailand Open organizers for pulling off a major coup by managing to get Nadal and Roddick to sign up for this year’s 2007 Thailand Open. My only hope now is that all of them stay fit and do not have any commitments that might make them pull out of the tournament. This has happened on many occasions in many cases these are due to unforeseen circumstances so I will have to keep my fingers crossed for them to finally make it to Thailand. I remembered something funny happening at last year's Thailand Open somebody in the crowd shouted "Vamos" the trade mark cry of the Spanish Bull Rafael Nadal. If all goes well, we will hear this famous cry from the man in person!