Jun 26, 2009, 10:07 GMT
Kuala Lumpur - Kuala Lumpur has returned to the ATP Asian calendar after an absence of over a decade with a field featuring two Top 10 players and French Open finalist Robin Soderling.
The event from September 28 also boasts number eight and Australian Open semi-finalist Fernando Verdasco, Chile's number 10 Fernando Gonzalez and French crowd-pleaser Gael Monfils.
Soderling, who lost to Roger Federer in the Roland Garros final, made his final decision in dramatic fashion in a late telephone call from Wimbledon which arrived during a speech at the Friday presentation by Malaysia's prime minister.
Also playing: Nikolay Davydenko, Spain's David Ferrer and Japanese number one Kei Nishikori, currently out with an elbow injury.
The Malaysian Open will be held at the 16,000-seat Putra Stadium in the capital. It is the fifth event of the autumn Asian swing and will double-up with the Thailand Open, held the same week.
Events in Tokyo and Beijing and the Shanghai Masters 1000 follow.
'There is great demand for cities to host ATP events and in particular within the Asian region,' said ATP International head Brad Drewett.
'Asian tennis fans have demonstrated that they are among the best in the world and we are excited that tennis fans across Malaysia now have the opportunity to see some of the world's best players battling it out in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.'
Marcelo Rios of Chile won the KL tournament in a previous incarnation in 1995.
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NOTEBOOK: Roland Garros winner Kuznetsova in Wimbledon outback =
London (dpa) - French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova doesn't seem to rate at Wimbledon, with the Russian exiled in the first round to outside court 13 and sent to minor showcourt 3 for her second round victory.
In addition, number one Dinara Safina missed out on any Centre court glory, with the Russian winning her latest match on court 2.
Kuznetsova is not going to make an issue over the choice of real estate in the same way that Jelena Jankovic did at last year's edition.
'I'm fine to put me wherever they want,' said Kuznetsova. 'They don't have to put me Centre court, but it's a little bit weird.
'It's not only about me, it's about Dinara playing on Court 2, Venus (Williams) plays on Court 1.'
But Kuzy says that's the way it is at the All England Club.
'At Wimbledon you have to expect anything. It's special for everybody and for me, as well. That's why I like it, because it's unpredictable.'
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