Bangkok - Spain's Rafael Nadal will complete a Top 3 hat-trick for the Thailand Open when he plays the autumn event for the first time, officials said on Thursday.

The world number one's showing will follow that of Roger Federer, the 2004 and 2005 champion, and Novak Djokovic, finalist last year against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Six-time Grand Slam winner Nadal will be joined in the field at the Impact arena by Frenchman Tsonga.

"I'm very pleased to finally be able to come and compete at the Thailand Open," said Nadal in a statement.

The presence of the world's top player can only help the event, which is in danger of faltering after the fading from the tennis scene of Thai Paradorn Srichaphan, the major crowd-puller in his Bangkok hometown.

The event runs September 26-October 4 and begins an ATP Asian run which concludes a fortnight later with the new Shanghai Masters. (dpa)