Top ladies tennis showdown in Hua Hin
Hua Hin's centenary celebration highlights this Tennis match.
Multi sport stadium sponsored by the Intercontinental Hotel will host a top international tennis event, never before exhibited in Thailand.
Top-ranked players Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams will usher Thailand into the New Year when they play in an exhibition event in Hua Hin on Jan 2.
Russia's Sharapova and American Williams will play each other in a friendly exhibition match. A mixed doubles match featuring former world number nine. Local matador Paradorn Srichaphan and Thailand's current number one Danai Udomchoke will round of the events.
Called the Centennial Invitation, the event will be held at the Centennial Park being built on Petchkasem Road close to the entrance of Soi 112, as part of the celebrations to mark Hua Hin's 100th anniversary.
Hua Hin's centenary celebration highlights this Tennis match.
Former top-ranked players Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams will usher Thailand into the New Year when they play in an exhibition event in Hua Hin on Jan 2, organisers said yesterday.
Russia's Sharapova and American Williams will play each other.
They will then play in a mixed doubles match featuring former world number nine Paradorn Srichaphan and Thailand's current number one Danai Udomchoke.
Called the Centennial Invitation, the event will be held at the Centennial Park, to be constructed on Petschkasem Road close to the entrance of Soi 112, as part of the celebrations to mark Hua Hin's 100th anniversary.
"I'm delighted to be able to spend my New Year in Hua Hin," said Sharapova.
"I am sure it will be an exciting time and I'm looking forward to competing in the Centennial Invitation."
Williams said she was also looking forward to playing in Thailand again.
"I have very fond memories of my previous visit to Thailand," said the American star.
"I'm really looking forward it."
Williams and Sharapova met in an exhibition match in Chiang Mai in the New Year of 2005.
The two have won a combined 10 Grand Slam and 61 WTA titles between them. Each has won three matches in their head-to-head record.
Suwat Liptapanlop, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand (LTAT), said he was delighted that the two had chosen Hua Hin to start the New Year in.
"Maria and Venus are amazing players and fantastic people," Suwat said.
"They are delighted to have an opportunity to return to Thailand to thrill Thai fans and celebrate their New Year in Hua Hin.
Suwat said the LTAT wanted to be part of Hua Hin's centenary celebrations and help boost tourism. It will also celebrate Thailand being selected to host the 2011 ITF Congress.
"The event will help bring tourists to Hua Hin and help boost our country's economy," he said.
The Sharapova v Williams match will be a best of three set format. After that each will partner either Paradorn or Danai in a one-set match.Tickets priced 1,500 baht will be on sale at Thai Ticket Major outlets and Major Hua Hin from Nov 21.
More than Bt20 million will be spent to stage the Centennial Invitation in a match between former world No 1s Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams inHua Hin on January 2, 2010.
Co-hosted by the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand and the city of Hua Hin.
According to LTAT president Suwat Liptapanlop, the two tennis queens will be paid more than Bt10 million in appearance fees.
The friendly match will be held on a temporary court with a capacity to seat 4,000 people at the Hua Hin Centennial Park. They will play a best-of-three-set match (super tie-break for the third set).
The marquee match will be followed by a one-set mixed doubles match featuring Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke. Channel 3 will broadcast the matches live from 3pm.
Sharapova is due to touch down on New Year's eve, Williams a day later.