(AFP) Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic spent longer in official engagements than on the court Friday, earlier meeting Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who seized power from an elected government as then-army chief in a military coup last May.

Dressed in traditional Thai silk shirts they also signed a book of well wishing for the hospitalised Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 87, the world’s longest-serving monarch, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok’s historic quarter.

Their Thai tour also included a visit to the Erawan shrine, the downtown site of the deadly August bomb attack that launched a fresh blow to the kingdom’s reputation as a tourism haven after last year’s coup and the anti-government protests which preceded it.

Tennis players Rafael Nadal, right, of Spain and Novak Djokovic, left. of Serbia visit a fair after meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha outside Government House in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Djokovic will face Nadal in the tennis exhibition match in Bangkok to boost confidence in Thailand’s safety after a deadly Aug. 17 bombing that left 20 dead in the heart of the capital. (Rungroj Yongrit/Pool Photo via AP)

A Thai woman seller gives traditional loincloth to tennis players Rafael Nadal, right, of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia as they visit a fair outside Government House in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Djokovic will face Nadal in the tennis exhibition match in Bangkok to boost confidence in Thailand’s safety after a deadly Aug. 17 bombing that left 20 dead in the heart of the capital. (Rungroj Yongrit/Pool Photo via AP)

A Thai woman takes selfie photo with tennis players Novak Djokovic, right, of Serbia next to Rafael Nadal of Spain at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Djokovic will face Nadal in the tennis exhibition match in Bangkok to boost confidence in Thailand’s safety after a deadly Aug. 17 bombing that left 20 dead in the heart of the capital. (Rungroj Yongrit/Pool Photo via AP)

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, right, greets tennis players Novak Djokovic, center, of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Djokovic will face Nadal in the tennis exhibition match in Bangkok to boost confidence in Thailand’s safety after a deadly Aug. 17 bombing that left 20 dead in the heart of the capital. (Rungroj Yongrit/Pool Photo via AP)

Tennis players Novak Djokovic, center, of Serbia and Rafael Nadal, left, of Spain give rackets to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha during a meeting at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Djokovic will face Nadal in the tennis exhibition match in Bangkok to boost confidence in Thailand’s safety after a deadly Aug. 17 bombing that left 20 dead in the heart of the capital. (Rungroj Yongrit/Pool Photo via AP)

Top tennis players, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, center right, and Rafael Nadal of Spain, center left, leave after offering garlands for Phra Phrom, the Thai interpretation of the Hindu god Brahma, at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Thailand is making special efforts to promote tourism after the Aug. 17 bombing at the shrine. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Top tennis players, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, left, and Rafael Nadal of Spain, hold garland to offer for Phra Phrom, the Thai interpretation of the Hindu god Brahma, at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Thailand is making special efforts to promote tourism after the Aug. 17 bombing at the shrine. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who is in Bangkok for an exhibition game against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.visits the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. A bomb exploded near Erawan Shrine on Aug. 17, killing 20 people and injuring more than 120. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Source: Agence France-Presse