Thailand’s top-ranked men’s player Danai Udomchoke will be joined by Davis Cup teammate Peerakiat Siriluethaiwattana and Israel’s Dudi Sela as wildcards into the main draw of the Thailand Open 2012.

By competing in the 10th anniversary installment of the Thailand Open Danai will be the only player to have competed in all 10 editions of the tournament. Currently sitting at #147, Danai is steadily climbing back up the world rankings after missing much of 2011 due to injury and shoulder surgery and seeing his ranking fall as low as #919.

In 2012, Danai has performed strongly in Challenger and Futures events, winning in tournaments in Australia, Taiwan and Canada after losing in five tight sets to Gilles Simon in the Australian Open in January.

“I really appreciate the faith that the tournament organizers have in me,” said Danai on hearing of his wildcard. “It’s an incredible honour to be the only player to have played the Thailand Open in all of its 10 years. I’ll be doing my very best to do well at the tournament and I hope everyone comes out and supports all the Thai and foreign players.”

This is the first time that Peerakiat has received a main draw wildcard and he earned his position in the draw after winning a play-off organised by the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand. Currently ranked #1188 in the world, Peerakiat’s only previous appearance in the main draw of the Thailand Open was in 2007 when he came through qualifying.

 “I’m really excited to get this opportunity,” said Peerakiat, who is currently competing in a Futures event in Vietnam. “Whoever I play, it is going to be tough, but I will give it everything I’ve got.”

Israel’s Dudi Sela is currently ranked #102 in the world and last week was a part of his country’s exciting Davis Cup win over Japan. Earlier this month, Sela triumphed in the Challenger event in Bangkok and in 2012 has also enjoyed a semi-final appearance in Delray Beach and quarter-final finishes in Newport and Chennai, where he was defeated by eventual champion Milos Raonic.

The Thailand Open 2012 boasts a strong field filled with some of the most exciting players in the world. World #9 Janko Tipsarevic will be top seed and competing against French stars Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils, as well as Australian prodigy Bernard Tomic, Spaniard Fernando Verdasco and big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic. The tournament will be held at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani from this Saturday 22 September to Sunday 30 September.