Djokovic to play Nadal in exhibition match in Thailand

Rafael Nadal. AP

BANGKOK, Thailand — The world’s top-ranked player Novak Djokovic will play an exhibition match against longstanding rival Rafael Nadal in Thailand next month.

Suwat Liptapanlop, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand, said Wednesday that the match would be played on Oct. 2 at Bangkok’s Hua Mark Indoor Stadium.

He said the match was important to the tourist industry after last month’s deadly bombing of the Erawan Shrine, saying it will “boost confidence of Thailand’s safety and the business returns to usual.”

Djokovic last came to Thailand in 2008 when he lost the final of the ATP Thailand Open to Jo Wilfried Tsonga, while Nadal visited the capital in 2010 for the same tournament and lost in the semifinals. TVJ