BANGKOK (AP). Rafael Nadal will make his first appearance since completing a career Grand Slam when he headlines next week’s Thailand Open, which also features the return of 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Porto.
Nadal, who became the seventh player to win all four Grand Slam titles with victory at the US Open in September, had to withdraw from the Bangkok event in 2008 and 2009 because of injuries, but is finally ready to make his first appearance.
The world No. 1 arrived in Thailand on Tuesday and has been relaxing with friends at the beach resort of Hua Hin ahead of the start of the tournament on Monday.
After a first-round bye, Nadal will play his opening match on Thursday against one of two qualifiers, but before that he will participate in a tree-planting ceremony in Hua Hin on Tuesday as part of the “One Million Trees for the King” anti-global warming project.
The Spaniard will also pay a visit to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Government House on Wednesday.
Del Potro, meanwhile, is preparing for his first match since January after recovering from wrist surgery. The Argentine, whose ranking fell from No. 4 to No. 35 during his absence, will play Belgium’s Oliver Rochus in the first round.
“I’m happy to be back in Thailand as I came to play here three years ago. Bangkok is a nice city and Thai people are nice. I will try my best every match here,” said Del Potro.
Del Potro, who turned 22 on Thursday, played his last match in the Australian Open fourth round and lost to Marin Cilic. He withdrew from several tournaments before having surgery in Minnesota in May.
The Thailand Open also features world No. 8 Fernando Verdasco of Spain, who received a wild card, No. 13 Jurgen Melzer of Austria, 2009 runner-up Viktor Tricki of Serbia and No. 25 Ernests Gulbis.
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