Aiming for an ace: France’s Richard Gasquet serving to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco during their Proton Malaysia Open quarter-final clash, October 2, 2009. Verdasco won 7-5, 6-4. GLENN GUAN/The Star

France’s Gael Monfils in action against Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina during the second round match at the Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, October 1, 2009. Monfils won 6-4, 6-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych in action against Simon Greul of Germany during the second round match at the Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, October 1, 2009. Berdych won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko in action against Taylor Dent of America during the second round match at the Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, September 30, 2009. Davydenko won . 6-3, 7-6. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Sweden’s Robin Soderling in action against Brendan Evans of America during the second round match at Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, September 30, 2009. Soderling won 6-1, 6-1. GLENN GUAN/The Star

France’s Gael Monfils in action against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan during the second round match at Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, September 30, 2009. Monfils won 7-6(3), 7-6(2). GLENN GUAN/The Star

Giant Killer: Sweden’s Joachim Johansson in action against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia during the first round match at Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, September 29, 2009. Johansson won 7-6, 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Spain’s David Ferrer returning a shot to Mikhail Youzhny of Russia during the first round match at Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, September 29, 2009. David lost 6-7, 2-6. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych returning a shoot to Igor Kunitsyn of Russia during the first round match at Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, September 29, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

India’s Rohan Bopanna returning a shot to Jose Acasuso of Argentina during the first round match at Proton Malaysia Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, September 29, 2009. Rohan won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. GLENN GUAN/The Star

American Taylor Dent returns a shot to Andrew Golubev of Kazakhstan in the first round of the star-studded Proton Malaysian Open tennis tournament at Bukit Jalil, September 28, 2009. Taylor won 4-6, 6-3, 7-6. The week-long event, featuring some of the top men’s singles players like Robin Soderling, David Ferrer, Nikolay Davydenko, Lleyton Hewitt and Gael Monfils, ends on Oct 4. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Spain’s David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez (right) pose during a photocall at the KL Tower, September 28, 2009. The two are in Kuala Lumpur for the Proton Malaysia Open tennis. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus (left) and Taylor Dent of USA posing during a photocall in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building at Dataran Merdeka, September 27, 2009. The two, who are wildcard entires for the Malaysian Open championship from September 28 – October 4 are clad in Baju Melayu. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Si Yew Meng serves to Mariusz Fyrstenberg of Poland during the qualifying singles at the Malaysian Open championship, September 26, 2009. Yew Meng lost 6-4, 5-7, 7-6. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Spirited show: Yew Meng returning a shot to Fyrstenberg during their first round match of the Proton Malaysian Open, September 26, 2009. Yew Meng lost 6-4, 5-7, 7-6. GLENN GUAN/The Star

TOP PRIZE: Tournament director Nick Freyer and trophy sponsor Tumasek Pewter’s general manager David Tan holding the Malaysian Open trophy during the unveiling ceremony, September 25, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Project 2013 Firhan Ashari scoring pass Kuala Lumpur goalkeeper Abdul Hakim Adnan during the Razak Cup hockey  tournament at Jalan Duta hockey stadium, August 13, 2009. Project 2013 won 5-4. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Project 2013 Firhan Ashari celebrating with his teammate after scoring against Kuala Lumpur during the Razak Cup hockey  tournament at Jalan Duta hockey stadium, August 13, 2009. Project 2013 won 5-4. GLENN GUAN/The Star