The eleventh staging of the Thailand Open in September this year will be the last edition of this ATP 250 hardcourt event after the rights have been sold to organizers in Shenzhen, China. This development was confirmed by Thailand Open officials on Thursday.
The new ATP event in Shenzhen will also be staged in the last week of September next year.
The move had to be made following declining audience interest in Thailand Open. The organizers have reportedly found it challenging to get top players for this Southeast Asian tennis event. During the tournament’s early years, it managed to attract marquee players such as two-time champion Roger Federer and other previous champions such as Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. Current world number one Rafael Nadal also participated in 2010 where he reached the semifinals.
“It is with mixed emotions that we say farewell to the Thailand Open,” tournament organizer Brian Marcar said.
“We have been privileged to have seen this generation’s greatest players competing here in Bangkok – Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray – these guys are the very best of the best and have all played at the Thailand Open.”
“I would like to express our most sincere appreciation for everyone who has supported the event over the past 11 years, from the tournament’s loyal sponsors to the ATP, the players and the tennis fans. We are looking at other opportunities to stage invitational tennis events featuring the world’s top tennis players here in Thailand.”
