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Celebrating its 5th anniversary in 2013, the US$984,300 Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur announces the first marquee players who will play in the ATP 250 tennis tournament, from September 21 to 29, at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil. The world’s third ranked David Ferrer will be joined by the popular defending champion Juan Monaco of Argentina, and the world No. 10, Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.

The Tournament Patron is YABhg. Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, with the tournament once again being strongly supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia.

“Celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur as our country celebrates ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2014’, it is only fitting that David Ferrer, the world’s third ranked player, has already confirmed his participation, along with our popular defending Champion Juan Monaco of Argentina and a new face for us in KL, Stanislas Wawrinka,” said YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia

“The tournament has established itself as a fan favourite, a favourite amongst players and is one of the most televised and marketed ATP 250’s on the Tour. This tournament showcases Malaysia in the finest possible light and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia, is proud of what has been achieved in such a short time and looks forward to even greater domestic and world-wide promotional success in the years ahead.”

Ferrer, this year a French Open finalist, Australian Open semi-finalist and recent Wimbledon quarter-finalist, holds 20 career titles and has reached another 19 finals. The softly spoken 31 year old has won 2013 titles in Auckland and Buenos Aires. He reached the French Open final without dropping a set, was also a finalist at the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami and Acapulco, a semi-finalist in Doha and a quarter-finalist at the ATP Masters 1000s in Rome and Madrid.

In 2012 he won a Tour best seven titles from eight finals and is one of a very few active players to have won titles on all four major surfaces – clay, hard, grass and indoors. And, he has wins over some of the biggest names in tennis including Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

“I am looking forward to come back to Kuala Lumpur, I have a very good time last year, no, and I hope, maybe, I will do more good results when I come back,” said Ferrer, speaking at the Championships, Wimbledon. “Everyone at the tournament is very, very good, is a nice atmosphere and the city is very good. I have been to Kuala Lumpur few times and I always feel very comfortable.”

In a fantastic final last year, Juan Monaco scored a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Julien Benneteau of France in a match that lasted more than three hours. The tennis played was of the highest level and the thousands of fans that were there to watch the action were on the edge of their seats during the thrilling points. It was Monaco’s first visit to Kuala Lumpur and certainly winning the title left an added impression on the charming and accessible Argentine.

This year Monaco won in Dusseldorf made the semis in Houston and the quarters in Barcelona. He has been ranked as high as No.10 and is currently 20. He holds eight career titles and reached another nine finals. Last year along with winning the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, Monaco claimed another three titles.

“Last year was a great experience for me in Kuala Lumpur,” said Monaco. “I came to the city and didn’t know what to expect and when I left I had a title in my hands and I feel I made many new friends. It is a very nice city. I saw a few things when I was there and it was great, but most of my time was at the stadium or the hotel because I had to concentrate for my matches. I am looking forward to coming back again.”

Wawrinka has stunned many of the biggest names in tennis and can boast wins over Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, Andy Roddick and Jo Wilfried Tsonga. He is ranked 10 with his career high being nine. He has four career titles and another nine finals and this year he won Oeiras (Portugal), reached finals in s’Hertogenbosch, ATP Masters 1000 Madrid and Buenos Aires, made the semis in Casablanca and the quarters at the French Open and Chennai.

The Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur is sanctioned by the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia. In addition to the distinguished support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia, the event is proud to have prestigious sponsors that include Rado, CNN International, the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Wilson, 100 Plus, the Albukhary Foundation, Astro, Starbucks and the ATP World Tour’s Premier Partner Corona and Platinum Partner Ricoh.

Said Tournament Director Nick Freyer of organisers IMG, “I want to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal sponsors. We are thrilled they have come back to join us during our fifth anniversary. To celebrate the tournaments milestone anniversary we will have 500 tournament shirts to give away daily over the last five days (25 to 29 Sept) and we will once again have the daily ‘Catch the Ball’ competition with prizes to be won in addition to new attractions at our interactive area and a photo gallery celebrating the history of the tournament. Last year our best reserved seats were sold out for the weekend and I am confident that with the players announced today, and with further good news possible when the full entry list is announced, I am confident that we have exciting times ahead of us.”

The Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur has a new vivid and fun official website MalaysianOpenTennis.com which highlights everything to do with the tournament. There is also the tournament’s official Facebook page which is facebook.com/MalaysianOpen.KualaLumpur and of course the tournament is on Twitter and can be found at twitter.com/#!/KLopentennis.

Tickets go on sale today and prices remain very reasonable and range from RM 10 to RM 120 and there will be free admission between Saturday 21 and Tuesday 24 September. Tickets can be purchased on-line through the event’s flash website malaysianopentennis.com/2013/tickets.php or through the ticket hotline at TicketCharge Ph: 603-92228811

For more information on the tournament, visit MalaysianOpenTennis.com