China's rising tennis star Zheng Jie, fresh from her WTA victory in Stockholm, will make her Thailand debut in the 200,000 dollar PTT Bangkok Open in October, organisers have said.

The Grand Slam doubles winner from the Australia Open and Wimbledon became China's hottest property Monday when she clinched her third career title at the Stockholm Open, taking her world ranking to 27.

Also debuting at Bangkok's 32-draw tournament, which runs from October 9 to 15, is Australian tennis star and former world number eight Alicia Molik.

Molik, whose rank plunged to 202 after illness last year, will be joined by France's Nathalie Dechy, the world number 35 who is also appearing in Thailand for the first time.

Argentina's Gisela Dulko will compete to defend her doubles title along with India's Sania Mirza, who withdrew last year in the quarter-finals due to injury.

Thailand's number one and world number 118 Tamarine Tanasugarn will lead eight Thai players in the tournament.

Suwat Liptapanlop, deputy prime minister and president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand, said he expects the tournament to bring new investment to the capital and raise the profile of Thai tennis.

"I hope Thailand will finally become a destination for any tennis player to complete," he told reporters. 
 
(AFP via CRI August 17, 2006)