World No.6 Milos Raonic of Canada, who won his sixth ATP title on Sunday at the Washington Open, will take part in the annual Hua Hin exhibition event, organisers confirmed yesterday.
Raonic will join No.5 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the six-player, three-day tournament during the New Year, said Suwat Liptapanlop, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand.
Raonic has fond memories of Thailand, where he won the 2013 Thailand Open, which has since ceased to exist.
The organisers have changed the format of the Hua Hin event from a two-player match to a six-man tournament, Suwat said.
The other four top-20 players will be announced later, and Thai players will be given chances to practise with the participants.
On Sunday, Wimbledon semi-finalist Raonic defeated Vasek Pospisil 6-1, 6-4 in the tour’s first all-Canadian final.
Playing his first event since producing his best Grand Slam showing at Wimbledon, Raonic banked US$316,400 and made a perfect start to his preparation for the US Open.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to lead into my most important part of the year,” Raonic said. “I’m fortunate to have played so well at the starting stages. It’s tough after a few weeks away.”
Raonic, who said he was “far ahead” of where he hoped to be in US Open preparations, had not won an ATP crown since last September at Bangkok and had not reached a final since losing to Juan Martin del Potro last October in Tokyo.
The 23-year-old matched his career high in the ATP rankings yesterday by rising to sixth, boosting his confidence ahead of the US Open.
“That number I have beside my name is no coincidence and I would not be surprised if that number gets smaller,” Raonic said. Bangkok Post/AFP