Melzer, Serbians Tipsarevic & Troicki To Play Kuala Lumpur

© Getty ImagesJurgen Melzer will make his debut in Kuala Lumpur.

Austrian Jurgen Melzer and Serbs Viktor Troicki and Janko Tipsarevic will join fast-rising Australian teenager Bernard Tomic at the third edition of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2011 from 24 September to 2 October.

“Fans of the tournament have been asking for fresh stars to get to know for the third edition of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, and we continue to work hard in being able to deliver on this, but at the same time accommodating many old friends, who wanted to return for a second or third year,” said Tournament Director Nick Freyer.

“I am really delighted that Melzer, Troicki and Tipsarevic will be making their debuts in Malaysia. With their strong rankings and with one being a Wimbledon Doubles Champion and the other two Davis Cup heroes for Serbia, we are excited to be able to welcome them, and look forward to introducing them to Malaysian fans.”

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Melzer is the only player to have captured titles at Wimbledon in the past two years. In 2010 he teamed with German Philipp Petzschner to win the men’s doubles and this year claimed the mixed doubles with Iveta Benesova.

The 30-year-old left-hander is ranked No. 18 in the world this week, ten places off his career-high ranking of No. 8 from four months ago. He has won three career ATP World Tour titles and was a finalist on seven other occasions. In 2011 he reached the last 16 at the Australian Open, has reached three quarter-finals (most recently last week in Hamburg), and was semi-finalist in Monte-Carlo.

“I have played throughout Asia but have never taken the opportunity to visit Kuala Lumpur before now and I am really looking forward to it,” Melzer said. “Other players have told me the hospitality and hotel is great and the people and fans there are very enthusiastic and welcoming. I think it will be great to visit a new country and city so I’m looking forward to it.”

Troicki and Tipsarevic have produced their best tennis over the past year, which was highlighted by the incredible run Serbia had in the 2010 Davis Cup, which lead to them winning the coveted ITF men’s team trophy for the very first time.

Troicki, 25, reached a career-high ranking of World No. 12 this year and is currently No. 15. He has one career ATP World Tour title and has reached three other finals, including at Sydney this year. Also in 2011 he has reached the fourth round at Roland Garros and was a semi-finalist at Rotterdam.

The 27-year-old Tipsarevic is enjoying a career-high ranking of World No. 23 and has twice been a finalist in 2011, finishing runner-up at Delray Beach on hard court and at Eastbourne on grass.

Tickets for the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2011 have been selling at their fastest pace in the tournament’s three-year history.

“The new ticketing structure that makes the tournament accessible to everyone has caught on superbly and the way things are going I envisage a fantastic atmosphere at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil,” Freyer said.

A concept that started in the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur’s first year has become a tradition and will happen again in 2011 - the tournament will give a main draw doubles wild card to a local player who will team up with one of the international marquee players.

“You can’t buy experience like that,” Freyer added. “We’ll keep it a surprise till closer the time as to who the two players will be but I am sure the fans will really enjoy that match.”

The Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, a founding sponsor of the tournament, will continue to be the Official Hotel of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2011. The hotel remains a player favourite on the ATP World Tour.

For more information and updates on the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2011, please log on to www.MalaysianOpenTennis.com.